Alaska governor establishes Rural Energy Action Council

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski has announced the creation of a Rural Energy Action Council to make short-term proposals for the reduction of energy costs in rural Alaska. The council will pick up the work of the Alaska Rural Energy Policy Task Force that the Alaska Legislature created in 2003. The new council includes members from all regions of the state.“The council includes rural Alaskans who are making real progress in lowering the cost of energy to those who live in the farthest reaches of the state,” Murkowski said. “I expect their work to provide me with some ideas on how to make a difference in rural Alaska now and not 20 years down the road.”

The governor expects the council to address issues that include incentives to lower energy costs; regional supply and distribution centers; cooperative fuel purchases; power plant operational efficiencies; consolidation of energy providers; a review of Alaska Energy Authority programs; acceleration of wind turbine generator installations; and energy conservation measures.

The council will issue a report to the governor by April 15, 2005.

–Petroleum News