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1 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 Police Reports Locally grown businesses bid for micro-investor attention Service clubs: Rotary Club of Ashland Lithia Springs AARP offers free tax aid Should the city regulate outdoor pot growing? Education Grizzlies shine at Eugene speech tourney Ashland High School named among best in the state High school Student of the Month: Jackson Richmond Senior party fundraising starts The birdman of Bellview Environment The birdman of Bellview Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Business Locally grown businesses bid for micro-investor attention Seed donation helps grow SOU program Local home brewing scene continues to ferment Raising pot could lift all power rates Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Politics and elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Sadness, relief greet Kitzhaber resignation locally State News Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) Nation - World Obituaries Mary Ann (Schuler) Hill Death Notices Death Notices Death Notices Richard Nudelman, 70 years Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Raiders survive Grizz boys fend off Eagles, earn second straight win Raiders roll into CCC semis Fantasy Sports: Youth is the way to go when stocking up at second A man among boys High school Grizz boys fend off Eagles, earn second straight win Malcolm's big night powers Ashland past N. Eugene Grizzlies suffer another tough loss; SOU softball team sweeps BC Millers smother Grizz on senior night Crater girls, boys cruise to victory in Midwestern League blowouts Southern Oregon University Raiders survive Raiders roll into CCC semis A man among boys Pair of Raiders earn CCC honors It's the Knights' night Voices Latest Stories Changes in latitude Our View: A change of scenery Landgren cartoon: Mall terror threat Michelle Teheux: Will we keep heading down the wrong path? Our View: Pot tax fairness Editorial Our View: A change of scenery Our View: Pot tax fairness Our View: Cellular dissonance Our View: Keep pot programs separate Our View: A welcome decision Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 25 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Feb. 20: Letters at length Feb. 18: Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Guest Opinion: Why so anxious to tax marijuana? Herb Rothschild Jr.: A good day for peace Columns Changes in latitude Michelle Teheux: Will we keep heading down the wrong path? Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Council Corner: Volunteerism and its impact in Ashland Honoré: GOP’s health care strategy Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'Mr. Turner' paints an intense portrait 'Much Ado About Nothing' kicks off OSF's 2015 season Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Ticket Availability SOU's 'The Glass Menagerie' is memory — and memorable Ticket Availability Joyous re-launch of 'Dames at Sea' Music Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Movies Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Mr. Turner' paints an intense portrait Andrea Honaker: The tight race for Best Picture Movie review: Second dip in ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ fails to live up to original Movie review: Kevin Costner helps make ‘McFarland, USA’ a good movie Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Religion News: Netanyahu encourages Jews to immigrate to Israel Service clubs: Rotary Club of Ashland Lithia Springs Prudence Hilburn: Chocolate wins favor among fans of many flavors Easter Island — more than just giant heads 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Feb. 27-March 1) Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Changes in latitude ... Our View: A change of scenery ... Calendar: Thursday, Feb. 26 ... Changes in latitude ... Our View: A change of scenery ... Calendar: Thursday, Feb. 26 ... 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 incr... » 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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