What prevents wind from reaching its full potential in Alaska Native villages?
A. Technology is a limiting factor for further wind power development in Alaska. While the majority of the wind power industry continues to race toward larger, more sophisticated machines, few manufacturers focus on the small and midsize turbine market required in Alaska. In addition, politics and the structure of the Alaskan electric utility system also limit wind energy because there is little incentive to reduce fuel costs. The state fuel subsidy program, Power Cost Equalization (PCE), often encourages inefficiency in rural electric utilities because the subsidies do not reward efficiency.
