The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake
The Alaska Energy Authority has asked FERC to amend the license for the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project, the largest in Alaska, so it can build a new dam diverting meltwater and surface runoff from the Dixon Glacier into Bradley Lake, raise the lake's normal maximum operating pool by about 16 feet, and install a 0.3 megawatt micro-hydro turbine in one of the dam's fishwater release valves. The application projects about 38 percent more average annual generation while installed capacity rises from 119.7 to 120.0 megawatts, because the gain comes from water rather than from turbines. AEA estimates construction at about $400 million and about three years of study and permitting followed by three years of construction. FERC accepting the application for filing is a procedural step and not an approval.
How the public reaches this
The comment window has closed. Anyone could file a comment, a motion to intervene or a protest in docket P-8221-124 until 5:00 p.m. Eastern on August 28th, 2026, which was 1:00 p.m. Alaska time, and that hour has passed. FERC now weighs the application and has published no decision date. The docket itself stays readable through FERC's eLibrary, so an Alaskan can follow what was filed without being able to add to it.
Timeline
Sources
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How this decision moved
One dated line per material change, oldest first.
2026-08-04 Tracked. FERC accepted the amendment application for filing and opened a comment window closing 5:00 p.m. Eastern on August 28. The project details, the capacity figures and the 38 percent generation projection were read from the Federal Register notice. The cost estimate, the schedule and the siting 27 miles northeast of Homer come from AEA's own project page. Bradley Lake supplies about 10 percent of the power Railbelt utilities use each year.
2026-08-07 Re-verified today against the Federal Register notice and the Alaska Energy Authority's project page. The comment window is open and closes at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on August 28th. The June 30th final amendment application, the roughly $400 million estimate and the three years of study and permitting followed by three years of construction all stand.
2026-08-12 Re-verified against the FERC notice. Comments, motions to intervene and protests are still due 5 p.m. Eastern on August 28th in docket P-8221-124. The amendment would raise the lake about 16 feet, add a 0.3 megawatt micro-hydro turbine, and take the project from 119.7 to 120.0 megawatts while adding roughly 38 percent to average annual generation.
2026-08-15 Re-verified against the FERC notice. Comments, motions to intervene and protests are still due 5 p.m. Eastern on August 28th in docket P-8221-124. The amendment would raise the normal maximum operating pool about 16 feet and add a 0.3 megawatt micro-hydro turbine, moving installed capacity from 119.7 to 120.0 megawatts.
2026-08-19 Re-verified against the FERC notice. Comments, motions to intervene and protests are still due 5 p.m. Eastern on August 28th in docket P-8221-124. The amendment would raise the normal maximum operating pool about 16 feet, add a 0.3 megawatt turbine in one of the dam's fishwater release valves, and take the project from 119.7 to 120.0 megawatts. Nine days remain.
2026-08-21 Re-verified against the FERC notice. Comments, motions to intervene and protests in docket P-8221-124 are still due 5 p.m. Eastern on August 28th. The amendment would divert Dixon Glacier meltwater and surface runoff into Bradley Lake, raise the normal maximum operating pool about 16 feet and add a 0.3 megawatt micro-hydro turbine. Seven days remain.
2026-08-25 Re-verified against the Federal Register notice for docket P-8221-124. Comments, motions to intervene and protests are due August 28th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, three days out, and the date is unchanged.
2026-08-26 Checked against the Federal Register notice. Comments, motions to intervene and protests on the Alaska Energy Authority's amendment application in docket P-8221-124 are due August 28th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, which is 1:00 p.m. in Anchorage. Two days remain. The amendment would divert Dixon Glacier meltwater and runoff into Bradley Lake, raise the normal maximum operating pool about 16 feet, and add a 0.3 megawatt turbine in a fishwater release valve, taking installed capacity from 119.7 to 120.0 megawatts while raising average annual generation by roughly 38 percent. The capacity barely moves and the energy moves a great deal, which is the whole point of the project and the easiest thing about it to misread.
2026-08-27 Checked against the Federal Register notice for docket P-8221-124. Comments, motions to intervene and protests on the Alaska Energy Authority's amendment application are due tomorrow, August 28th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, which is 1:00 p.m. in Anchorage. The amendment would build a diversion dam at Dixon Glacier, raise the lake's operating elevation by about 16 feet and add a 0.3 MW micro hydro turbine, taking installed capacity from 119.7 MW to 120.0 MW while lifting average annual generation about 38 percent. One day remains.
2026-08-28 The comment window closes today. FERC's notice in docket P-8221-124, re-verified today against the Federal Register text published August 3rd, sets comments, motions to intervene and protests at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on August 28, 2026, which is 1:00 p.m. Alaska time. The amendment as noticed is unchanged, a new diversion dam on Dixon Glacier meltwater, a pool raise of about 16 feet, and a 0.3 megawatt turbine in a fishwater release valve, taking installed capacity from 119.7 to 120.0 megawatts for about 38 percent more average annual generation.
2026-08-31 The window closed. FERC's notice in docket P-8221-124 set comments, motions to intervene and protests at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on August 28th, 2026, and that hour has passed, so this is no longer something an Alaskan can write in on. Re-verified today against the Federal Register text published August 3rd, 2026, which is unchanged. What was noticed remains a new diversion dam on Dixon Glacier meltwater, a pool raise of about 16 feet, and a 0.3 megawatt micro-hydro turbine in a fishwater release valve, with installed capacity rising from 119.7 to 120.0 megawatts. FERC has published no date for its decision.
2026-09-04 Checked and unchanged. The Alaska Energy Authority's own project page still records the June 30th filing as the most recent action, puts construction at approximately $400 million, and describes three years of study and permitting followed by three years of construction. The comment window closed August 28th and FERC has published no decision date.
2026-09-09 Checked and unchanged. The Alaska Energy Authority's own project page still carries the Final License Amendment Application filed with FERC on June 30th, 2026 as its most recent development, and puts estimated construction cost at approximately $400 million. Comments, motions to intervene and protests closed at 5 p.m. Eastern on August 28th, 2026, and no FERC action on the amendment has been published since. Nothing here has a scheduled next date, so a ruling would arrive unannounced.
2026-09-13 Checked and unchanged. The Alaska Energy Authority's Dixon Diversion page still shows the final license amendment application filed with FERC on June 30th as its most recent action, and puts estimated construction cost at about $400 million. The FERC comment window closed 5 p.m. Eastern on August 28th, so the matter sits with the Commission and any change arrives unannounced.
2026-09-17 Checked and unchanged. The Alaska Energy Authority's Dixon Diversion page still shows the final license amendment application filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on June 30th as its most recent action, and still puts estimated construction cost near $400 million. Nothing posted there reflects any action after that filing.
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Alaska AI Docket, The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake.
Tracked since August 4th, last verified
September 17th. https://alaskaaihq.com/docket/bradley-lake-dixon-diversion/ · Reuse permitted under
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Questions about this decision
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What is The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake?
The Alaska Energy Authority has asked FERC to amend the license for the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project, the largest in Alaska, so it can build a new dam diverting meltwater and surface...
Who decides The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake?
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Can I comment on The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake?
The comment window has closed. Anyone could file a comment, a motion to intervene or a protest in docket P-8221-124 until 5:00 p.m. Eastern on August 28th, 2026, which was 1:00 p.m. Alaska time, and that hour has passed. FERC now weighs the application and...
Where is The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake?
Bradley Lake, Kenai Peninsula
Has The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake been decided?
It is pending a decision. The window closed. FERC's notice in docket P-8221-124 set comments, motions to intervene and protests at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on August 28th, 2026, and that hour has...
What happens next with The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake?
No further date is published. It is pending a decision and the record is checked against its source every day.
What changed on The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake?
The window closed. FERC's notice in docket P-8221-124 set comments, motions to intervene and protests at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on August 28th, 2026, and that hour has...
What kind of decision is The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake?
A regulatory docket, decided by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
When did The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake start?
Tracked since August 4th, 45 days ago. The earliest date on its record is June 30th.
Where can I read the sources for The Dixon Glacier diversion into Bradley Lake?
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, via govinfo.gov, Alaska Energy Authority, Petroleum News. Every one is listed with its date on the decision page.
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