By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – Learn more about three alternative energy sources at an evening meeting next month in Dowagiac.
"What we're attempting to do," Michigan State University Extension Service Cass County Director Dan Rajzer advised the Board of Commissioners Jan. 8, "is to provide some information to the general public" at a meeting at Southwestern Michigan College's Mathews Conference Center from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23.
"We're hoping to touch on a number of different subjects," Rajzer said. "You might have heard quite a bit about renewable portfolio standards and the fact Michigan has to reach a certain percentage of its energy needs from renewable energy sources. We're having Tom Stanton from the Michigan Public Service Commission come down to explain that whole program, how the PSC is involved and what counties and the general public can do."
On Oct. 6, 2008, Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed into law a bipartisan energy package that will meet the growing demand for renewable energy by mandating that 10 percent of the state's energy is derived from renewable resources.
"The Power of Living: A Renewable Future for Cass County" also features looks at three energy sources – solar energy by Mark Bauer of Bauer Power Inc. in Wayland, anaerobic digestion by Norma McDonald of Phase 3 Consulting and wind energy by Steve Harsh of MSU Extension, plus a Cass County update by Midwest Energy Cooperative.
"Anaerobic digesters may sound out of place compared to the other two, but it is a viable alternative energy source for businesses, industries and municipalities that do produce waste," Rajzer said.
Commissioners received postcards for a separate 3 p.m. meeting of business, school and community leaders and other invited guests for a roundtable discussion of energy issues – what's already going on in Cass County, what the county can do to be involved in this process and what grants might be available.
"We're trying to target at least one person from each township – preferably the supervisor," Rajzer told Commissioner Ron Francis, R-Cassopolis.
The three-hour program costs $15 per participant. Cass County needs to be concerned about renewable energy because of the United States' heavy reliance on non-renewable sources such as coal, oil and natural gas.
Michigan remains a large importer of fossil fuels, including 97 percent of its petroleum needs, 80 percent of its natural gas, all of its coal and most of its nuclear fuel from other states and nations.
Rajzer also announced that the household hazardous waste collection for 2009 has been set for Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m.-noon, at the Cass County Fairground in Cassopolis.