Context: Alaska's economy depends heavily on increasingly expensive diesel fuel for heating, transportation, electric power and light. Though wind and hydroelectric power are abundant and underdeveloped, proposals for statewide energy systems (e.g. with special low-cost electric interties) were judged uneconomical (at the time of the report, 2001) due to low (less than 50¢/gal) fuel prices, long distances and low population. The cost of a gallon of gas in urban Alaska today is usually 30–60¢ higher than the national average; prices in rural areas are generally significantly higher but vary widely depending on transportation costs, seasonal usage peaks, nearby petroleum development infrastructure and many other factors.

Question: Why were alternative energy sources judged uneconomical in 2001?
Answer: low (less than 50¢/gal) fuel prices, long distances and low population

Question: How much does gas cost in Alaska, in comparison to the national average?
Answer: 30–60¢ higher

Question: What are some reasons why gas prices may vary in Alaska, especially?
Answer: transportation costs, seasonal usage peaks, nearby petroleum development infrastructure

Question: What does Alaska's economy heavily rely on?
Answer: diesel fuel

Question: What purpose does diesel fuel have in Alaska?
Answer: heating, transportation, electric power and light

Question: Why were alternative energy sources judged uneconomical in 2010?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: Why were alternative energy sources judged economical in 2001?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: How much does gas cost in Alaska, in comparison to the international average?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: What are some reasons why gas prices may be stable in Alaska, especially?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: What does Alaska's economy not rely on?
Answer: Unanswerable