Seward's Mount Marathon hydro plant generates again, opens to public Nov. 18

The City of Seward's Mount Marathon Hydroelectric Plant is generating electricity again after a rehabilitation, and the city will hold a public grand opening at the plant on Wednesday, Nov. 18, with doors opening at 5:30 pm.

The plant sits at the base of the Mount Marathon race trail. The department has said the open house is a chance for residents to see the improvements, learn how the plant works and meet employees and contractors who worked on it.

The department first told the council the plant was running in its report for the Oct. 26 meeting, saying the plant "is officially operational" and "once again generating electricity for the Seward community." It said the work improved the plant's infrastructure, mechanical equipment and control systems, and that bringing it back helps Seward reduce its reliance on purchased power. The city buys power from Chugach Electric Association. The department has not said whether the plant will change electric rates.

In May, the department said staff were very close to returning the plant to service, with installing and programming a new control system the main remaining task in the powerhouse. By its Oct. 12 report, the project was in its final stretch, with contractor Electric Power Systems working alongside the department's crew.

The plant returns as Seward weighs four options for its city-owned electric utility, including a local cooperative running it under a franchise and sale to an existing Railbelt cooperative. Most respondents to the city's Seward's Energy Future survey favored a local cooperative. A city presentation lists the plant as a small existing asset beside a much larger proposed hydro project at Godwin and Fourth of July creeks. The city attorney reported Nov. 5 that the city is still awaiting a federal decision on a preliminary permit for that project.

The City Council will review the survey results and the options at a work session Monday, Jan. 11, 2027, at 5 pm.