Practical Action and Energy Cost Reduction

08/26/2005

Paul Munnis,
The Rochester Democrat
August 26, 2005

As we start up the steeply rising cost slope of our energy future it is time to take a look at schools, community needs, and energy policy.

We would encourage an engineering study to look at the cost of putting solar panels on our south facing school and public building roofs with a view towards co-generating electrical energy for sale into our municipal energy grid. The cost of these panels can be spread over many years and should be a viable option for us.

The cost of solar panels have come down, the equipment has been simplified so that battery storage can be eliminated with rectification to AC power done directly and electrical meters can now be run backwards to establish credits, laws and tariffs have been developed by our legislature and adopted by our municipal energy corporations allowing for buy-back of co-generated electric. We have put the essential framework in place and now its time to further our investment and to reap the harvest.

Here in Rochester, RPU is at the leading edge of electrical engineering knowledge and can do much to help the Rochester school system to become a part of the energy solution instead of being a part of rising costs. We encourage a collaborative study be undertaken by both groups.

We also encourage our school-board to establish a policy for cutting back on evening lighting use for school parking lots. We understand the personal safety issues involved and the variety of evening uses of our school buildings for sports and public meetings but we also know that the cost of lighting those vast acres of parking lots is rapidly rising and it is time to revisit the subject of school energy conservation and to adopt and apply energy minimization policies. This is going to become a way of life for us in the future.

We need to look at whether our school system needs to be buying wholesale gasoline in the futures market and then storing it to assure us that we have obtained the lowest cost for bussing children. Perhaps a co-op arrangement with the Rochester Bus Transportation Company could be investigated. Business as usual will not be an option in this energy intensive future of ours. Our County and Municipal public fleet operations may also want to join such a co-op to contain the cost of gasoline for city and county vehicles.

With common sense, prudent investment, and forward vision, we can do just fine. That is the beauty of our community we can leverage our resources for the common good of all of our citizens.