Lawrence is officially striving to be one of the top 10 communities in the country when it comes to promoting the use of renewable energy.

City leaders have started the process of applying to the Environmental Protection Agency to become one of the first 10 Green Power Communities in the country. The designation recognizes communities that use renewable energy for at least 2 percent of their total electricity consumption.

“We’ve talked a lot about how Lawrence really should be an environmental leader, and this is one way we could be one,” City Commissioner Boog Highberger said.

But it won’t necessarily be easy. For Lawrence to have 2 percent of its electrical usage come from renewable energy, between 1,000 and 2,000 homes would have to convert to renewable energy such as wind, solar or hydroelectric, which often is more expensive.

Kevin Doyle, the city’s infrastructure and development coordinator who is overseeing the application process, said convincing enough homeowners to go renewable may not be feasible. Instead, the city will focus on convincing businesses and homeowners to convert a portion of their energy usage to renewable sources.

Purchasing green tags

Currently, the easiest way to convert a portion of a home or business’ energy usage is to purchase what are called renewable energy certificates, Doyle said. The certificates – sometimes called green tags – are a way to convert a building’s energy usage to renewable without adding wind turbines, solar panels or other devices to a home or business.

The green tags are sold by renewable energy companies. For every green tag sold, the renewable energy company promises to produce 1,000 kilowatts of renewable energy. That energy will be pumped into the country’s system of electrical grids, which means there will be less of a need for coal plants to pump energy into the grid.

The Lawrence-based Bowersock Mills & Power Company – which uses turbines on the Kansas River to produce renewable energy – is part of a nonprofit organization that sells green tags.

Sarah Hill-Nelson, an executive with Bowersock, said the mill is producing energy for about 1,700 green tags in Lawrence. In order for Lawrence to reach the 2 percent level, residents and businesses need to buy about 20,000 green tags. The Bowersock green tags – which are sold through a company called Zephyr Energy – cost $20 per year. The cost of the green tag is in addition to a home or business’ monthly utility bill.

An average home would need to buy 10 to 15 of the green tags to offset 100 percent of the home’s electric usage. People, though, can choose to offset any percentage of their home’s energy usage. People also don’t have to buy the green tag from Zephyr. There are multiple companies across the country that sell the renewable energy certificates.

City government already spends about $9,000 per year for green tags to offset 3 percent of the government’s electricity usage. That is part of the requirements to be a Green Power Community.

Marketing concept

Doyle said the city soon will start heavily promoting the green tag concept at energy fairs and other city events.

“We’re going to do some press releases, and hopefully do some peer pressure,” Doyle said. “There are some businesses that already have made that leap before we even started encouraging anyone. We’re hoping that by the city of Lawrence showing some leadership and some other businesses showing leadership, that others will come along.”

The Raven Bookstore, 8 E. Seventh St., is among the 15 businesses and organizations that have purchased green tags from Bowersock. Pat Kehde, a co-owner of the bookstore, said the few extra dollars per month was worth it to her.

“I feel virtuous, and that is always good,” Kehde said. “And I really like the idea of us being part of this EPA program. It could bring some positive attention to the city.”

That’s what city leaders are hoping for. If Lawrence is one of the first 10 cities in the country to qualify for the program, it will be designated as a founding member of the partnership. Doyle and Highberger both said such a designation could catch the attention of environmentally friendly companies that are looking for communities to expand into.

But Doyle said that’s not the main reason the city is getting involved.

“I think it is the right thing to do,” Doyle said. “People have to step up and make a difference, and you have to do that at the individual level.”

Doyle said if the city hopes to be among the first 10 communities, it likely will need to meet the 2 percent goal by the end of 2007.