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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 Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Digging deep into trench rescue training ... Why we sing for peace (part II) ... Ticket availability ... Digging deep into trench rescue training ... Why we sing for peace (part II) ... Ticket availability ... OUR VIEW Our View: What's the rush? Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 20, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 20, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Clean-energy activists who filed an initiative petition that would require Ashland to produce 10 percent of its own electricity from "new, local and clean" sources by 2020 are counting their solar panels before they're plugged in. Unlike other local municipalities, Ashland owns and operates its own electric utility. Also unlike other cities who depend on Pacific Power and its coal- and natural gas-fired generating plants, Ashland gets the bulk of its power from hydroelectric sources — some of the cleanest power around. Electricity from fossil-fuel sources accounts for only 2 to 4 percent of Ashland's supply. Is it realistic to expect the city to produce 10 percent of its power from solar and/or wind sources in just four years? City Councilor Mike Morris, in his Council Corner column in these pages earlier this month, asked where those generating facilities would be placed, whether the city would have to buy land, what the venture would cost and what impact that might have on city ratepayers. Those are valid, responsible questions, and Ashland residents deserve answers. Fortunately, the city already appointed a group of citizens to work on the issue of climate change and what Ashland can do to address it. Next week, the committee will present a Climate Action Plan to the public. The committee was created for the express purpose of addressing climate change. City-operated power generation is only one of many options. The committee should be allowed to do the job it was given without forcing the issue prematurely. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 20, 2016 at 12:01 AM » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501