Toler seeks energy solutions for JoCo economy
From our weekly issue dated February 11, 2009
Renewable energy was the topic on Friday, Jan. 30, when Josephine County Commissioner Dave Toler met with state and regional officials at the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) campus in Klamath Falls.
Toler said that Jeff Griffin from Gov. Kulongoski’s economic revitalization team was present, along with Michael Cavallero from Rogue Valley Council of Governments (RVCOG). The group heard a presentation from representatives of the Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Center.
Toler said that Oregon BEST is the research arm of a consortium consisting of the University of Oregon at Eugene, OIT, Oregon State University at Corvallis, and Portland State University. Its aim is to achieve Kulongoski’s goal of 25 percent renewable energy production.
Josephine County is included as part of the governor’s Southern Oregon renewable energy solution team, along with Lane, Coos, Curry, Douglas and Jackson counties, Toler said.
“The goal of the solutions team is to help us achieve an accurate inventory of renewable energies in the counties,” he said.
Wind power may be feasible on the coastal counties, Toler said, while hydro, solar and biomass sources are possible in Josephine County.
While at the OIT campus, Toler said that he witnessed some of the geothermal drilling occurring there. That facility is looking to use that energy source to completely power its operations, Toler said.
Besides Griffin, he also met with Mark Kendall of the Oregon Dept. of Energy about the possibility of creating a “green industrial park” and wood pellet manufacturing plant in Josephine County. “It’s a matter of acreage,” Toler said.
Approximately 13 acres already are available for a solar array at the North Valley Industrial Park in Merlin, Toler said, and 40 percent of that property has yet to be developed.
“There are still a lot of empty spaces there,” he said.
Toler said that companies currently at the industrial park could have their facilities retrofitted for renewable-energy use. Adding renewable energy to that area could stimulate the existing businesses and the park, create more employment and keep companies there.
“Providing them with green energy might be a way to do that,” Toler said.
The commissioner said that he also planned to meet with representatives from Merlin-based Grayback Forestry about providing the raw material for a wood pellet or brick manufacturing plant.
“We’ve got the resource, let’s use it,” Toler said.
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