Biomatter plants can be rendered carbon neutral, and given it's Alaska fuel can be sourced fairly close by.
For powering Fairbanks?
The closest volcano is some 100 kilometers form Fairbanks and was active in the Holocene, but was last active some 3000 years ago. It is possible that any magma that could be used to draw geothermal power from is too deep currently to be used, or at least cost effective use.
Winds do not blow strongly enough to power Fairbanks, and the nearest coast is some 400 kilometers away.
Sometimes there really are no better options. Unless the US figures out a way to finance a nuclear power plant for some 100 000 people using a coal fired power plant using coal sourced from the nearby coal mine really is the best option short of not powering the place at all. Or, you know, make the investment for a wood fueled power plant instead.
For powering Fairbanks?
The closest volcano is some 100 kilometers form Fairbanks and was active in the Holocene, but was last active some 3000 years ago. It is possible that any magma that could be used to draw geothermal power from is too deep currently to be used, or at least cost effective use.
Winds do not blow strongly enough to power Fairbanks, and the nearest coast is some 400 kilometers away.
Sometimes there really are no better options. Unless the US figures out a way to finance a nuclear power plant for some 100 000 people using a coal fired power plant using coal sourced from the nearby coal mine really is the best option short of not powering the place at all. Or, you know, make the investment for a wood fueled power plant instead.