Renewable energy goal of Dave Toler task force
Making Josephine County as powerfully self-reliant as possible is the goal of a Renewable Energy Task Force being organized by Dave Toler, vice chairman of the county board of commissioners.
“I’m working to pull together people from throughout the county who have appropriate backgrounds,” said Toler. “People with expertise in various renewable energy sources -- from small hydro and wind to solar and biomass -- can contact me.
“I would like to conduct the first meeting of the committee in October, giving us six weeks to form up,” he said. He can be contacted at 474-5221 or via email at dtoler@co.josephine.or.us.
The Illinois Valley resident said that he first approached his fellow commissioners during March about his idea. He has the OK to form the committee, and develop objectives and an agenda, he said.
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“We’re only 18 years away,” said Toler, “from meeting the Governor’s Alternative Energy Bill requirements of having 25 percent of our energy from alternative, renewable sources. We’re now at less than 5 percent.”
Besides helping the county and its residents become more self-reliant, tax credits could be realized, Toler said. As well, energy could be sold to private enterprise, thus helping the county coffers. Private enterprise in other areas has shown great interest because of the tax credits, he said.
What happens, Toler continued, is that private enterprise wanting tax credit is willing to invest in making alternative energy a reality. Therefore, public agencies such as the county end up only having to put up 10 to 15 percent of the needed funding.
“It’s a public/private program that’s working well elsewhere,” he stated.
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Toler said that he recently attended a presentation by Hood River officials regarding wind power. The presentation in Medford was sponsored by Rogue Valley Council of Governments (RVCOG).
Toler said he is impressed by the possibilities surrounding renewable energy. Other areas, such as Douglas County with its coastal tidal project; and Klamath County with its biomass and small hydro work, are examples.
“What is Josephine County doing?” Toler asked rhetorically. “We need to get going.”
Besides “financial mechanisms” he learned during the RVCOG program that under legislation, plants being developed must provide 10 megawatts of power or less.
Toler, who has some background in renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic, is looking for 20 to 25 people willing to share their expertise on the new committee.
“We can accomplish two important objectives,” he believes. Utilizing biomass from reducing the hazard of wildfire in forests, and using that biomass to produce energy are the two areas he especially cited.
“We need to become as self-reliant as possible,” Toler concluded.
