The Cook Inlet Region corporation has asked the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce to pressure utilities to support its planned Fire Island wind farm project.

KTUU reports the Native corporation has already spent $9 million and begun clearing land on Fire Island to build 33 turbines.

To get federal stimulus money, the corporation needs agreements from utilities to buy the power. Those contracts must be approved by state regulators by March.

The corporation says it is negotiating with utilities and working on ways to integrate the wind power with electricity generated by natural gas.