Just this past week, I saw in our local paper the headline “Public forum will address prospect of bringing local energy sources to Valley” (this forum is being put on by a local Transition Towns initiative).

The article goes on to say that our local city council “is currently in talks and awaiting grant applications, for the creation of a district energy system…..” So far, it appears that the potential clients of this district energy system would be large facilities, such as our seniors’ facilities, recreational buildings, the local high school, and the local hospital. All very good, but what of the average home owner?

As it stands now, the average home owner gets “bupkes” as per usual. There are no incentives offered by the government in British Columbia, either at the provincial level or at the municipal level, to leverage their not inconsiderable purchasing power to help offset the substantial costs of purchasing solar panels or wind turbines for the home owner.

In Alberta, there are government incentives for home owners to purchase solar panels and solar hot water heaters, which is kind of ironic when one considers that Alberta is Canada’s “oil patch”.

Now I know that some people may say that British Columbia is not Dubai, with its 300 and some days of sunshine a year; however, let me direct your gaze to Wildpoldsried, Germany.

This little community of 2,600 hardy souls produces 321% more energy than it needs. Yes, you read that right: 321% MORE energy than it needs. This little community has the same average number of days of sunshine that Seattle, Washington gets per year. (Anyone who has been to Seattle will most likely remember it as being “moist” and gray).

Wildpoldsried has managed to achieve this by putting solar panels on nine community buildings and 190 private homes, building four biogas digesters, and installing seven windmills.  The district also benefits from three small hydro power plants.

Now, if I were to endeavour to go completely “off the grid” with my 1700 square foot urban home, I would have to cover every square inch of roof, and my entire property with solar panels, which would inhibit my small food forest, currently under construction and going much slower than I would like; not to mention, the Better Half giving me grief for taking away her much beloved sunshine.  However, if all of my neighbours had a few panels on each of their roofs, as well as each power pole equipped with a small wind turbine atop, then collectively we could all generate enough electrical power to serve our needs.

I hope that this forum generates some real ideas and plans for making these things possible.  If the government will not lead the way, I would suggest that the possibility of creating a co-op to purchase solar panels, solar hot water heaters, wind turbines, and hiring qualified installers be seriously considered.

In this day of ever rising prices of energy, it is incumbent upon us to take a serious look at the costs of our conventional energy sources and look for better, cleaner, and ultimately cheaper, energy sources.