News

Fifteen turbines originally from the California desert will be bringing power to three small villages in Southwest Alaska. Wind power is a unique opportunity for small and isolated communities, especially in Alaska. For more information, read the AEE case study "Harnessing the Wind in Rural Alaska." The Alaska Dispatch reports on the project in the villages of Kwigillingok, Kongiganak, and Tuntutuliak:

[The turbines] a perfect fit for the small communities, experts said. And refurbished though they are, the turbines are part of a decidedly high-tech project that includes online meters residents can use to monitor electric use from home computers and electric heaters that automatically fire up when extra wind blows. People are ready for relief from high costs in the Yup'ik villages near the Kuskokwim River mouth, where the diesel fuel that provides power and heat is barged up the coast at great expense, said William Igkurak, longtime manager of the local power company.