Energy Fair

Energy Fair. I’m Greg Martin as Line On Agriculture presents the Harvest Clean Energy Report.

I don’t expect cotton candy and carnival rides but an energy fair can be exciting in it’s own way. Roger Findley, Treasure Valley Community College is one of the organizers of T.V. Energy Fair next week in Ontario OR.

FINDLEY: This is our second annual energy summit and we want to highlight and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency so that’s the reason we’re putting on these energy summits. This year’s energy summit the first day is primarily devoted to energy efficiency, how do we get the most bang for our buck for what we are doing whether that be new light bulbs, weatherization, putting in variable speed drive on motors and fans and those kinds of things.

He says they are targeting pretty much everyone.

FINDLEY: Residential, commercial, public buildings so there’s something there for everybody and then the second day we’re looking at the renewable energy, primarily solar. We think solar is probably the best fit for our local area here. We think residential homeowners, business folks, farmers and anybody that has a large institutional building; schools, hospitals and those kinds of things can benefit because like I say we’re talking the whole gamut of energy efficiencies

Officials from the gas company and Idaho power will be on hand to talk about what kinds of incentives are available in the area. Findley says it doesn’t take much imagination to see possibilities for renewable energy.

FINDLEY: You know I see a lot of onion storage sheds in my drive in everyday and I think you know, a solar panel would really look nice on that onion storage shed sitting out there collecting all that energy.

One way to get started on energy projects around the home is to check with your local utilities and see what kinds of incentives might be available in your area that can quickly and easily pay for themselves. Findley says that Treasure Valley Community College is looking at creating a solar program.

FINDLEY: We are part of a statewide consortium that just started called the Oregon Green Tech Certificate and that started 3 weeks ago. We launched that program and that’s a 1-year certificate so we’re going to use that as kind of the basis for the 2-year degree. TVCC wants to become the regional leader in solar energy. Our Energy Summit is going to be held at the new armory and they have a hundred kilowatt solar array that’s incorporated into the building.

For additional information on clean energy, visit harvestcleanenergy.org. That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.???www.harvestcleanenergy.org