Vashon group eyes own energy

[arno]

Though it's just a few minutes from Seattle, Vashon Island has always remained a community apart, rural and artsy. Now an environmental-research group is proposing that the island further separate itself by producing all its own energy.

The Institute for Environmental Research and Education, an island think tank with an impressive list of financial backers including the Bullitt Foundation and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's investment firm, Vulcan, figures the goal could be met by 2015.

It contends aggressive spending on conservation measures could topple the conventional wisdom that alternative energy is too expensive, and that it could actually save the island's 11,000 residents about $5 million a year.

The 37-square-mile island is only reachable by air or sea, and electricity and natural gas are brought to the island via underwater lines.

Stage one: Change every light bulb to a compact fluorescent, add insulation to the many year-round homes that were originally built as vacation cottages and buy new energy-efficient appliances.

Together, those steps would eliminate 70 percent of the island's energy consumption, according to an institute study. But unlike most conservation pushes, the light bulbs, insulation and appliances would be paid for by a new public-utility district and installed by professionals.

Stage two: Install wind, solar and other renewable power solutions — including biomass plants to capture energy from the byproducts of the island's livestock.

The conservation measures and new energy sources would cost roughly $40 million. But the institute estimates the energy savings over the life of the equipment would be more than $95 million.

[mgopilot]

The study SOUNDS good, but the "installed by professionals" part really brings on the cost over runs.
I have been there, and even built a house there once. Biomass could be made to heat and supply cooking gas to probably a third of them. Superinsulation and low electric use appliances and light bulbs will help, but not yield a 70% reduction in energy use. I would say closer to 50%.
The island doesn't get enough average sun or wind to make adequate alternative energy systems inexpensive or with payback times less than a generation.
They need an impartial survey, not one trying to sell them a bill of goods with the strong possibility of heavy cost over runs and poor performance for the amount of people they have. They need do it yourselfers and no middlemen.