Unalaska, AK – A proposed Energy Star rebate program was brought before the city council Tuesday night per the council's request. The council wanted to spend another $225,000 to help residents deal with energy costs. This is in addition to a fuel tax suspension and electric utility bill rebates. The program would give residents money to help buy new energy star rated appliances and energy efficient light bulbs.

The program would allow applicants up to $100 rebates for light bulbs and $376 for one appliance per residential family. No other municipalities in Alaska have this program.

Public utilities director Dan Winters said he and his staff do not think the program is a good idea.

"We're thinking the money could be spent somewhere better like the hydro-turbines that we want to put in with the new water treatment plant," he said. "Also with our new power plant, we're putting in new heat recovery units. And I think that will have a bigger impact on our carbon footprints than this here will."

The utilities staff is also making the power house more efficient through better generators, only using high-grade fuel produced in North America, and installing catalysts on the generators and city boilers.

"Those are catalyst units that align the molecules in the diesel to accept more oxygen so you get a more complete burn. And since you get a more complete burn you use less fuel and decrease your footprint."

Winters said many people have already bought Energy Star appliances and energy efficient light bulbs anyway. If $225,000 is put toward this project, it will take 8.5 years for the city to regain that loss.

When the program was presented during the work session some city council members supported the idea because they thought it would make the community greener. Others argued that it was not the best way to reduce the town's carbon footprint. All council members expressed interest in helping future generations.