Alaska is the United States' final frontier; a land of unrivaled and wild beauty, a land where grizzly bears and wolves still dot the landscape. Unfortunately, most of the energy discussion in and around Alaska has regarded oil drilling and not renewables. In fact, Alaska's state legislature has been completely ignorant of the renewable energy movement, at least on paper. There is but one state incentive for renewables and that does not apply to homeowners.
Homeowners in Alaska are left mostly to themselves if they want to go solar. If you are lucky enough to live in the Fairbanks area, you may be eligible for a production incentive from the Golden Valley Electric Association. The utility's Sustainable Natural Alternative Power program (SNAP) is available to customers interested in photovoltaic and solar thermal electric systems.
As a matter of fact, the only incentive the average Alaskan has to look forward to is the federal $2,000 rebate. Let's just hope that doesn't expire at the end of 2008. Better yet, let's hope that the Alaskan legislature, with its VP-nominated Governor, will see the light...the sunlight that is.
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