In an attempt to get out in front of the integration of wind and solar power from private sources into the city’s power grid, the Washington City Council heard a proposed ordinance that would allow net metering in the city. Net metering would allow residents with alternative power sources to sell unused power back to the city. Mayor Joe Wellman says they’ll investigate net metering regulations in other community and utilities before making any final decisions…
The amount of a proposed access fee and what the city would pay residents for excess electricity fed back into the grid were the main points of discussion last night. Electric Department Superintendent Randy Emmons said he would like to see the interface between residential power sources and the city’s power lines inspected at least twice a year for safety’s sake.. Emmons said there is a need to be sure that there is no bleed back of electricity from private sources while workers are working on lines that supposed to be dead.
In other matters, the council endorsed a change proposed by the City’s Economic Development and Plan Commissions that would remove most residential properties from the city’s two TIF districts. The change would allow taxes resulting from new industrial and commercial development to be used for infrastructure improvements in the TIF districts without impacting taxes in the rest of the community. The Council also passed an ordinance that would bring minimum building requirements and setback in the EZ zoning area near the I-69 interchange in line with other industrial areas.