Alaska Taking the Lead on Alternative Energy

Alaska, run by Governor Sarah Palin, has announced an ambitious new goal: 50% of Alaska's energy being renewable by 2025. Now there are not many people up in the Arctic Circle, but it's twice as ambitious as President Obama's:

That's from the governor who can't wait to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and who sunk $500 million into a yet-to-be built gas pipeline. But now, she said, she would move to wean the state's far-flung villages from diesel oil to wind and geothermal and make the state's six utilities cease their in-fighting to more efficiently serve populated areas.

Palin's 50% goal one-ups California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who touts himself as the nation's green governor: Two months ago, he signed an executive order requiring 33% of Golden State electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2020. President-elect Barack Obama, whose home state of Illinois is a major coal producer, has called for 25% renewable energy use nationwide by 2025.

Good for Sarah Palin and good for Alaska.