City OKs purchase of energy ‘green tags’

City commissioners unanimously agreed to purchase $8,700 worth of “green tags” as a way to provide support for alternative energy production.

The tags were purchased from Lawrence-based Zephyr Energy, which uses the money to produce environmentally friendly electricity at Bowersock Mills and Power Co. on the Kansas River.

Green tags are a concept where businesses or individuals pay a company to produce alternative energy that is pumped into the country’s electrical grid. The alternative energy that enters the grid then reduces the amount of conventional energy – such as electricity from coal-fueled power plants – that must be produced to meet demand.

Commissioners also agreed to become part of a national “Plug-In” vehicle campaign that promotes the continued development of electric vehicles.