Alaska Natives discuss energy crisis

Alaska Native leaders meeting with government officials say some residents in remote villages are paying up to $3,500 a month for fuel.

Those comments were made Aug. 5 during a round-table discussion in Anchorage that was hosted by several Native groups.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin attended the meeting, along with U.S. Senators Ted Stevens of Alaska and Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.

The meeting was held as legislators have been weighing a bill to provide one-time energy rebates to Alaska residents to help them pay for skyrocketing fuel prices.

Some Native leaders say a recent vote by the state Senate to cut Palin’s proposed energy rebate from $1,200 to $500 is deeply disappointing.

—The Associated Press, information from Anchorage Daily News www.adn.com