Monday, Feb 7 2011 3:59PM
With the coldest winters in the country, Alaskans are often forced to pay sky-high heating costs.
NANA, an Alaskan corporation aimed at improving the lives of Alaskan natives, has partnered with the Rural Alaska Community Program (RurAL CAP) in order to improve the state of the energy crisis in northwestern areas of the state, reported the Arctic Sounder.
The partnership will allow RuRAL Cap to deliver its Energy Wise program to NANA communities this year, which the newspaper said allows rural Alaskans to reduce their energy consumption and lower their heating costs.
NANA has committed $860,000 toward spreading Energy Wise through six outlying communities this year. Community leadership development is an essential part of the program, as the paper reports funding will be used to train local crews on how to educate community residents on energy efficiency and household upgrades that can reduce consumption.
"Not only will this program help us address the cost of energy, but it is also an excellent village economic development tool that offers training and employment opportunities," NANA president and CEO Marie Green told the paper.
Alaska's Department of Energy reports the state experiences the coldest temperatures in the nation, causing Alaskans to consume energy at the highest rate per capita in the country.