Alaskan communities are increasingly turning to wind, solar and geothermal power as alternative energy sources, experts say.

Federal and state grants for construction and federal tax credits for existing systems often help cover the tab for the alternative energy, which reduces dependence on expensive diesel fuel, the Anchorage Daily News reports.

The possibility of selling excess energy back to local utilities is one attraction of wind power.

"Net metering" allows people or companies with small renewable-energy facilities to sell excess generated power to their local electric company, the Daily News reported.

Alaska is one of six states lacking net-metering laws, but the state's Regulatory Commission approved net-metering regulations in October.

Anchorage zoning laws forbid wind turbines, but the city and local power companies hope to eventually offer net-metering contracts to city residents.