Members of the Matanuska Electric Association are turning their attention to renewable energy. About 50 people met Thursday to talk about how to bring about an end to the co-op's plan for a coal-fired generation plant.
The group wants to shift the focus on researching and promoting renewable energy alternatives to the 100 megawatt coal plant the utility has planned to open in 2015. Meeting organizer Bill Erickson is spearheading a campaign to gather signatures.
He wants to force MEA to allow his group to present its alternatives to coal at a special meeting before the utility's board of directors. Erickson needs about 4,500 to 5,000 signatures to force the meeting.