Renewable Energy

This last election, both candidates past a strong message to the American people: the necessity of energy independence from foreign oil. Renewable energy is one of the ways homeowners and businesses alike can achieve this goal. In fact, Lake County is one of the most renewable energy counties in the nation! This includes solar power, biomass power, geothermal heat and wind power. So what is Lake County Development (LCD) doing about it and how can you get involved?

Recently LCD was awarded through OMEN (Oregon Micro-Enterprise Network). This funding, in addition to the entrepreneur and small business start-up assistance provided, served as a solid first step to begin to address the potential of not only new job creation, but the building of our economy from the ground level up.

In addition to public trainings from the OMEN grant, LCD also helped fund Lake County Resource Initiative's informational website which contains a wealth of specific information on renewable energy. (Link to LCRI's web page)

Currently LCD is providing assistance to the Lake County Resource Initiative (LCRI) on several major projects. Here is a brief listing of the current major projects being developed in Lake County:

Project List
1)   Geothermal Energy Facility - Lakeview - 200 MW +
2)   Downtown Heating District - Lakeview
3)   Small Hydro-electric - Lakeview - 28 KW
4)   Lakeview Biomass - Lakeview - 13 MW
5)   Paisley Geothermal Energy - Paisley - 2 MW

The above projects are expected to generate at least 300 MW of additional power to the town of Lakeview. Additionally, both Paisley and Lakeview are developing plans to completely heat the town using geothermal sources in the future.

LCD's Renewable Energy Coordinator, Brian Hider, is working on an implementation strategy designed to outline Solar, Wind, and Geothermal opportunities for the County. Brian is also developing carbon credit, and tax incentives for local businesses to save on costs. If becoming energy independent while saving money interests you, please feel free to contact Brian.

In addition to her other responsibilities, LCD Executive Director, Ronne Lindsay participates in the Governor's Oregon Solutions Team and the Economic Revitalization Team for Lake County, both of which have a focus on renewable energy!

Click here if you are interested in reading more about Renewable Energy in Lake County!