To all Atlinites for your support and encouragement over the last few years, GUNALCHEESH. Our dream of having a locally owned and operated micro-hydro plant has come true. April 1st/09 XEITL Limited Partnership.("Xeitl" is a Tlingit word "lightning" or "power" pronounced "shayck" achieved Commercial Operation and has been supplying electricity to Atlin since. Some of you living close to the diesel generating station may notice the quiet now that the diesels are no longer running, generating Atlin's power. They should operate only once a month so BC Hydro can cycle them to ensure reliability in case of emergencies. In late March a "B" train loaded diesel into the BC Hydro generating stations tanks that will likey be the last load of fuel for a very long time! 1.2 million litres of fuel per year or 3300 litres of fuel per day less fuel will be burned. This is approximately 4500 tonnes of Green House Gases less per year . Congratulations to Directors John Ward, Tina Brooks, T J Esquiro, Peter Kirby and project manager Stuart Simpson for accomplishing this project! Clean energy, clean skies, local First Nations Ownership, and local employment. "Never doubt the a small group of committed citizens can change the world" Margret Mead
This article is gratefully borrowed from the Atlin Whisper put out in support of Literacy by Northern Lights College.