LAKEPORT — As part of its business-plan goals, city council discussed its devotion to green projects Wednesday. Bringing solar to the city is a priority because not only will it slash its PG&E bill, it will also shine a spotlight on the city”s commitment to exploring and implementing alternative energy solutions, council members said.
In 2003, the council adopted an ordinance which made participation in the curbside pickup of garbage, recycling and green waste mandatory within the Lakeport City limits. On Saturday, a new recycling program will go into effect that eliminates waste from the city”s construction projects.
“If you go to the City of Riverside, their system is unbelievable. It is paid for co-operatively. I was at one of the workshops last year that was about how they”re doing it ? the paying for the project would come out of what is saved from our PG&E bill,” Councilman Bob Rumfelt said.
Public Works Director Doug Grider said the city currently has many green projects including a brand-new recycling program that is “the biggest in Lake County” and has swapped its burn program for a chipping program, among other projects.
“Those are all green projects and shows the city is concerned about the environment ? I would like to continue on in that vein with solar or other alternative energy projects,” Grider said.
He said a plan could be to go to the City of Willits to check out its new solar system, which he said “wasn”t totally free” to install but would bring back “long-term pay back” for the city, which is similar to Lakeport in size and population.
“They did enter into a long-term contract and they have to buy electricity for 20 years. At the point and time it was constructed the cost is a little bit more [for electricity] but it doesn”t escalate like PG&E does,” Grider said.
The city directed Grider to have a representative from the alternative energy company Aircon present a solar plan “specific to Lakeport” at its June 3 city council meeting. Grider said he would report to the council in May whether that representative will agree to participate.
Rumfelt said allotting staff time to the search for the right solar company should not be a big concern because the cost of initial evaluations is generally carried by the solar company. “At some point we agree with the project and they come up with the financing for it.”
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
