What to do about renewables in Rutland County?

For a variety of reasons, energy conservation and generation are hot topics in our region these days. As we try to make sense of all the complex factors influencing our energy situation, perhaps it would help to check out what other folks around the country are doing from a regional planning perspective.

The New Rules Project, an educational website, offers the example of Klickitat County in southern Washington state. The New Rules Project article argues that if "a proliferation of small-scale power plants serves the interests of the general community, cities and counties should include this concept as an element in their general plans and zoning ordinances."

That is exactly what Klickitat County has done. They studied the potential impacts of future energy projects within the county borders and came up with a plan to help direct any future projects to the most appropriate areas. Their process resulted in the creation of a county-wide "Energy Overlay Zone", a zoning tool aimed at expediting renewable energy development. Understandably, the establishment of this zone had many critics - maybe one person's renewable energy site is another person's treasured natural area or backyard.

When we are planning for our energy future here in Rutland County, there are many important questions to ask. How much energy do we need? How can we work together to reduce energy demand? Do we agree that increasing energy generation within our borders is an appropriate goal? What impact do we have on the larger national or regional community when we draw power from remote sources? How can we balance our environmental concerns with our economic goals and aesthetic preferences? Who are willing to ask to make sacrifices on behalf of our energy needs?

The Rutland Regional Plan (2008) states four major unmet needs in terms of the region's energy needs: full consideration of environmental impacts of productions; reducing emissions from energy use; rising costs of fuel; and widespread availability and use of alternative energy sources. Meanwhile, the plan points to several future trends in energy use: we are likely to see increased use of electricity and fossil fuel energy, unstable energy supplies and cost increases, and uncertain electricity supplies and costs.

Is the development of renewable energy sources within the region the best answer to these issues? Or should we focus more on efficiency and conservation? The Rutland Regional Planning Commission will hold a Regional Energy Meeting, with the assistance of VECAN, to explain what towns can do and are doing to address these questions in Vermont. Come join the discussion:

September 9, 2009
5:30 pm
Fox Room, Rutland Free Library