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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Wednesday Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland 10 things to know for Tuesday Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Control burn set for Wednesday Education Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers Business Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Blazers clinch playoff spot Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Documentary about Southern Oregon University football's national championship team to screen for free Fantasy Sports: Reds’ Chapman opens list of top closers High school Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Thompson-Siporen second in decathlon Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Letters to the Editor, April 1 Landgren cartoon: European travel essentials Our View: One for the books Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Editorial Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Our View: One for the books Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Letters Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Chris Honoré: Some political and social observations Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Ashland High grad performs at OSF's Hip Hop Open Mic Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' Ticket availability Ticket Availability Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Woman in Gold’ doesn’t shine Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Page H. Onorato: What’s on the menu for Easter? Page H. Onorato: Leftover ham and eggs make for some yummy dishes after Easter Carol Link: It’s time to get into shape for spring yard work Prudence Hilburn: Bake something different — cracker bread Lost in Suburbia: April showers bring May diets Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland ... Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza ... Control burn set for Wednesday ... Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland ... Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza ... Control burn set for Wednesday ... MEASURE 91 Raising pot could lift all power rates Ashland raises concern growers could bump city into next higher rate bracket Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 6:32 PM Updated Feb 23, 2015 at 6:49 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 6:32 PM Updated Feb 23, 2015 at 6:49 PM » RELATED CONTENT What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . • Residents tell OLCC: Don't restrict legal pot • Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today • State records show number of big marijuana farms has increased... » Social News Before recreational marijuana becomes legal July 1, the city of Ashland wants to get rules in place to keep the grows from using so much power that it jacks up rates for all residents.  “Indoor marijuana growing operations are intensive — I would even say extreme — electricity consumers,” city Administrator Dave Kanner said in testimony to a local government listening session of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, which regulates legal cannabis, on Feb. 18 in Ashland.  Growers will be responsible for paying their own power bills, but the problem is that excessive power use inside Ashland, a city-owned utility that buys energy from the Bonneville Power Administration, "could easily" cause the city to jump a category, from tier one to tier two, thus increasing rates for all power it buys, said Kanner.  “A large-scale commercial indoor grow operation can use hundreds of 1,000-watt metal halide light bulbs," Kanner wrote in a letter to the OLLC. "Oregon has no energy efficiency standards for indoor agricultural operations, which is something the Legislature may need to address, but in the meantime I believe the OLCC has the opportunity to address this issue as it applies specifically to large-scale indoor marijuana growing operations.”  Kanner, in an email, said the issue of energy efficiency of indoor pot grows is getting virtually no attention. OLCC chairman Ron Patridge, an Eagle Point native, said Kanner was the first person to bring up the issue.  “This is of particular concern to municipal electric utilities and public utility districts that, like Ashland, purchase their power from (BPA)," Kanner said. "We purchase power under a tiered wholesale rate structure whereby our wholesale cost goes up to what’s called our Tier 2 rate if power consumption exceeds a certain threshold. Needless to say, a single large-scale indoor growing operation could easily push Ashland (or other municipal utilities or PUDs) into Tier 2 rates. This then becomes a cost burden that is spread across the entire customer base; I would suggest unfairly so.” Kanner’s assessment of the looming problem puts the city council on notice that he will present them with proposals to skirt that crisis but, says city Councilor Carol Voison, nothing is on the table yet. Kanner has told the council that Kanner’s research into Colorado state and Arcata, Calif., presented to the council, show energy rates jumped there after large-scale indoor growing operations started up. “I don’t know how we can tax just the growers,” Voison said. “We’re not ready for this. I have real questions about how we control (energy use) with outside growers also. And the odor issue, which we get up to a dozen complaints a year about from medical marijuana.”  Since voters legalized pot statewide, the legislature should pass statewide energy efficiency standards for growers, Kanner suggested. The issue has been much-discussed at meetings of statewide associations of municipal utilities and public utility districts.  Energy efficiency standards for state-licensed indoor grows would incentivize manufacturers to produce fixtures that meet new codes — and utilities can adjust standards to go along with them.  Kanner also told the OLCC there should be performance standards for lighting, security, heating and ventilation for odor control — and a ban on big outdoor grows inside urban growth boundaries. Recreational cannabis becomes legal in Oregon on July 1. OLCC is required to begin accepting license applications for retail sale of recreational marijuana by Jan. 4. Reach Ashland freelance writer John Darling at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 6:32 PM Updated Feb 23, 2015 at 6:49 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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