RENEE MONTAGNE, host: NPR's business news starts with Alaska's oil paradox.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Alaska's state treasury is bursting. State officials expect a budget surplus of $2.7 billion thanks to high oil prices. But ordinary Alaskans suffer from some of the highest gas prices in the country. AAA says Alaska just became the first state in the nation where the average price of gas surpassed $4 a gallon, and residents in some remote villages pay $7, even $8 a gallon.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Alaska's Republican Governor Sarah Palin has a new proposal out. She wants to give utilities about $475 million to be used to lower customers' bills. She also wants to give every Alaskan an energy debit card worth 100 bucks.
Alaska's state treasury is bursting; state officials expect a budget surplus of $2.7 billion, thanks to high oil prices. But ordinary Alaskans suffer from some of the highest gas prices in the country. Now Gov. Sarah Palin proposes some relief for Alaskans.