A Wind Energy Guide for County Commissioners

Recently the US Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Wind Powering America, and National Association of Counties (NACO) released a report specific to wind energy. The report, entitled Wind Energy Guide for County Commissioners provides a relatively comprehensive guide to defining wind power, myths surrounding it, funding available, permitting, zoning and siting and the all important community outreach programs.

Also included are case studies, environmental and economic benefits. Again, as I use as a disclaimer that I do not believe that there is a single solution to our looming energy crisis (is it looming or has poisoning ourselves and possibly damaging our environment beyond repair indicate a crisis already in occurrence?) but as an Ohioan who happens to be mildly aware of the many local manufacturers of renewable energy products and the ironic fact that yes, there are turbine manufacturers local to my region (although the only turbine currently on display/in use is a second hand model shipped over from the Netherlands whom some sources have indicated was actually originally built here) and one that has looked at the more recent wind studies for 50 - 100m elevations as well as being somewhat aware of the current program studying an offshore windfarm on Lake Erie I have to exclaim that I am beyond AMAZED that not more has been done to utilize our local and regional resources (manufacturers, open lake area and wind patterns) to actually build a dang wind farm.

Sure, Bowling Green has some nice turbines (that is what the teaser photo is of) and Oberlin College is testing the air for feasibility, but a giant behemoth of a city, one with an amazing ability to squeeze resources for "public good projects" (COUGH, "Forgotten Triangle", COUGH) is almost sloth like in its, hesitant approach to further develop a program that could, just possibly could, make Cleveland the forefront in something more then just perpetuating a failing business model, school system and constant poverty.

I know, I know. Dru, your head is in the clouds. Why attempt to utilize our regional resources in a manner that would exemplify Cleveland as a forward thinking city? Why create a place for progressive, young and savvy thinkers to congregate after finishing up at our premiere schools instead of moving off to more expensive cities in search of the "exciting life" we all grew up watching on television? Who would want to live in a place that would constantly be regarded as a destination instead of a secret "underrated city". Who would pay for such a program? Those "fat cats in Washington"?

Maybe.

City Wheels Cleveland

In yet another stroke to make the city and surrounding areas more accessible to those of us whom don't want the burden of automobile ownership City Wheels has opened a car sharing office to service Northeast Ohio.

Offering cars for an hourly rate (adjusted if you pay a monthly fee) this plan may be for you...

Is CityWheels for you?

It's probably not if -

• You're under 21
• You have more than two points on your driving record
• You regularly depend on a vehicle for emergency or urgent use (i.e., you are a doctor on call)
• Your regular commute is not accessible by public transportation, walking or biking
• You live on a farm or in the distant suburbs and drive to the city every day
• You really love your Hummer
• You have lots of extra money lying around to spend on insurance, gasoline, maintenance, parking and car payments.
• Each of your cars clocks more than 10,000 miles a year

But, it might be for you if -

• You're over 21 with a good driving record
• You have vehicles being driven less than 10,000 miles a year
• You don't need a car for your regular daily commute
• Your household owns multiple vehicles and could conceivably "downsize" by one or more
• Your company's employees occasionally need a car (to attend meetings, run errands, etc) but would rather not drive to work every day
• You dislike sitting in traffic
• You care about the environment
• You want to do your part to improve the city you live in
• You're up for saving a few thousand dollars a year.

I don't want to be labeled as attempting to propagate an automobile based society, however I do believe that programs like this actually remove cars from the road by not only providing access to an automobile when it is necessary and therefore not to be used as a crutch for relatively easy journeys (such as walking to the corner store *COUGH*) which will hopefully release us from the neverending circle of asphalt addiction, at least a little bit.

Five Limes Maps

The Five Limes website (a consumer drivin green rating system of services and products) has just become more city specific by offering a user updated mapping system which allows visitors to search for LOCAL green products and services.

While The Pharos Project that I have written about before is based more upon rating building materials for the construction and design market Five Limes offers a rating system for services. I enjoy imagining that this site won't get hijacked by architects and designers in an attempt to tout just how wonderfully "green" they are and instead hope that cleaning companies, natural landscapers, restaurants, markets and more community driven organizations and institutions can use Five Limes to not only get their message out but also drum up more conscientious business.

Either way, I am not surprised at the cities that are currently on the list and hope that soon Cleveland based businesses will start to use this site, until then it is up to us to nominate local businesses and post them up ourselves. Time to start putting a list together. I hope you will join me in getting the word out, not only to area entrepreneurs but also to the international public that Cleveland not only supports a "green" economy but actual excells at it rather well on a local level.