A recent Ohio University hire has produced optimism for backers of the Turning Point Solar project looking to reach a deal with OU.
Joseph Lalley, who was named the university’s senior associate vice president for information technologies and administrative services in June, met recently with sponsors of the project.
Although no formal proposal was made, talks are ongoing. Lalley has been in touch with the project’s San Francisco sponsor, Agile Energy, and is discussing more intricate details, said Gary Houser, a longtime Athens renewable energy advocate who has knowledge of the proceedings.
“From the report I got, it was pretty encouraging,” Houser said. “Because apparently, Mr. Lalley, in the most recent position he had before OU, was at Cornell and was involved in alternative energy-related projects. He’s a fan of solar energy and has some sort of solar system in his own home.”
That was encouraging for supporters, but as usual, the excitement was tapered by reality, Houser said.
“No one wants to tip their hand, so to speak,” he said. “Even if he had some personal enthusiasm for the project, he’s still just one person in the administration of course, so we’re just waiting to see where that goes.”
Lalley was unable to be reached for comment by press time.
State Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville, is supportive of seeing this project developed.
“This would create a lot of jobs in my district,” said Gentile, whose district includes part of Athens County. “It also would be in line with a law in the state of Ohio that requires utilities to provide 25 percent of energy generation by advance in renewable energy sources.”
There is a unique chance in Southeast Ohio to develop shale and natural gas and renewable resources, Gentile said.
“We could emerge as the energy corridor and help provide energy to the state as well as the nation,” Gentile said. “We should embrace a strategy that includes renewable energy and I’m committed to doing whatever I can to see that this project moves forward in Ohio.”
He added that the decision by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, a state regulatory board, to turn down a funding plan backed by the American Electric Power company was a major setback.
“I think Ohio should examine its public policy towards renewables,” Gentile said.
In a previous Post article, a FirstEnergy representative said the university was given choices as to how much energy coming from renewable sources they wanted.
FirstEnergy is the power company supplying OU.
“We reviewed renewable choices, and the costing was a little on the high side for the products that (FirstEnergy) offered, so we didn’t opt for that,” said Tim Strissel, OU’s director of energy management. “We went with the standard portfolio mix that they offer.”
While he couldn’t remember the exact figures, he said they were, unfortunately, higher than what was justifiable.
“After discussing it, we decided that what we would rather do would be to get this contract in place and secure renewables on our own,” Strissel said. “When you buy through a large generator, you don’t even know where it’s really coming from.”
That is why Turning Point is trying to hammer home that it would be a locally provided source of energy.
Houser hopes to rally local support and is looking at Student Senate to provide the spark.
“The first stage was just getting some things published and getting the concept out there,” Houser said. “Recently, I’ve been in contact with a member of the senate and his suggestion is that we aim for an educational presentation to the senate about Turning Point.”
While no date has been set for the pitch to senate, both President Nick Southall and Vice President Anna Morton have indicated interest, Houser said.
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