Advances in wind energy.

Energy generated by wind turbines made significant new contributions to electrical grids in communities and villages across the state in 2012. The renewable energy generated provides, in part, an answer to issues regarding diesel fuel costs and potential natural gas supply shortages that have plagued power providers in recent years.

On Fire Island, three miles west of Anchorage, Cook Inlet Region Incorporated developed the first phase of a wind farm with a generation capacity of 17.6 megawatts. Being developed through CIRI's subsidiary, Fire Island Wind LLC, 11 General Electric XLE 1.6 MW turbines are expected to supply more than 50,000 MW-hours of power to Chugach Electric Association annually, enough electricity to power about 6,000 homes. It is the first phase of what could be up to 33 turbines, depending on future wind power purchase agreements. All 11 original turbines were online by Sept. 25.

Golden Valley Electric Association built the largest wind farm in the state at Ferry near Healy, accessible only by the Alaska Railroad or a footbridge. The $93 million Eva Creek Wind Project has a 24 MW capacity from 12 German-built REPower Systems turbines. The first power from Eva Creek Wind came into the grid at 9 a.m. on October 24.

For the Kotzebue Electric Association, generating power from the wind is nothing new--they have been doing it since 1997. Early this spring, two new Dutch manufactured EWT 900 turbines were added...