Solar Garden | Summit County Energy Plan Almost A Go
It’s ready to sign a letter of support, so long as several small criteria are met. Commissioner Thomas Davidson said he wants to see the plan and the county’s letter of endorsement touch on the public health benefits of becoming more energy efficient. He’d also like to include a system of measurable results as the plan guides decision- and policy-making down the road.
Commissioner Dan Gibbs suggested the advisory group take a close look at sustainable food programs and the feasibility of large-scale production. He also asked them to look into a new grant program for renewable energy as a teaching tool at schools. The grant helps school districts install solar arrays or geothermal systems that can be incorporated into lesson plans.
There was some discussion about how the county government could play a role in plan objectives with the tight ship it’s running – such as the inability to grant tax incentives. Instead, Davidson suggested tapping into the public’s apparent desire for clean energy and request a tax increase on the 2012 ballot.
The energy plan is meant to catalyze local action, while providing countywide guidance and opportunities for collaboration to “make our entire county a model of energy efficiency, energy security and energy independence,” the drafted letter reads.
Primary goals in the plan include 20 percent greenhouse gas reduction, 20 percent energy use reduction in buildings and
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