If implemented, a full slate of energy-saving and energy-creating ventures could make Osceola one of the first in the state to meet Governor Jim Doyle’s “25 by 25” energy independence goal.

During a recent joint meeting with the Osceola School and Village boards, the Osceola Energy Independence Team outlined a number of projects that, if put into action in their entirety, could exceed by more than 300 percent the goal of generating 25 percent of the electricity and transportation fuels from renewable resources by the year 2025.

“Officials and community members understand that not only is this the right thing to do, it’s also saving us money,” School Board President Timm Johnson told Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, about the Jan. 26 meeting.

The school district and Village boards will hold a public meeting on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the high school’s large group instruction room to discuss the energy team’s findings in detail and seek those residents interested in serving on an ongoing committee.

Though not all the energy team’s projects are completely defined and researched, the list ranges from installing geothermal heating/cooling systems, converting school buses and other vehicles to run on straight vegetable oil or compressed natural gas, and installing a large-scale anaerobic digester.

A series of so-called “low-hanging fruit” projects, that would conserve energy already being spent, are also being considered. Such projects include teaching bus drivers and other public officials economical driving practices, improving building insulation, programming lights to go off and replacing less efficient light bulbs.

Audit results

Utilizing an energy conservation grant received from the state’s Office of Energy Independence last year, the Osceola Energy Team gathered three years’ worth of energy data from all publicly owned buildings, as well as all fuel used by school buses, police vehicles and other vehicles.

The energy team discovered that the school district’s buildings, by far, are the largest energy consumers. More than 70 percent of the total energy consumed by both entities is used in the school’s buildings.

For that reason, making the buildings more energy efficient is one of five priority items the energy team identified.

The energy team found that by turning thermostats in each school building down could reduce energy use by 2.5 percent per degree lowered.

Re-roofing the Osceola Middle School building was also identified as a priority item.

The energy team also suggested that the school and Village boards jointly approve an eco-municipality resolution.

“In some ways, becoming an eco-municipality would simply recognize the commitment Osceola has already demonstrated to sustainability,” Johnson said in a Clean Wisconsin press release. “But it would also ensure that we consider all the costs of our actions to maximize the social, environmental and economic benefits for our residents.”

Investment in renewables

The energy team, however, concluded that conservation projects alone wouldn’t be enough to meet the energy goals.

After examining a number of options, the energy team determined that an anaerobic digester, which would produce a burnable methane gas that could be used to heat buildings, generate electricity or fuel vehicles, could be one of the more feasible projects.

“We need a lot of additional information to see if it’s worth it,” said Johnson, who chairs the energy team.

Osceola Village Administrator Neil Soltis noted that one possible option being explored included somehow linking a digester into the Village’s wastewater treatment system.

One possible location for that project could be near Osceola’s Industrial Park, where wastewater from a force main serving Dresser joins the larger system.

“Somewhere in that general vicinity is what you would call an area of opportunity,” Soltis said.

Other organic materials, such as farm waste or waste from a bakery, for instance, could also be located near a potential digester in that area, Johnson said.

“Anything that has those easily digestible forms of carbon would be a perfect fit,” he said.

Such a project, though, could cost $6 to $10 million, Johnson said, depending on the size of the digester and the availability of feedstocks.

Like more than 30 years ago, when the Osceola community sold stock to help create the Village’s Industrial Park, Johnson said an energy project could be a situation where the community is asked to make a large investment of some kind.

The school district is currently considering a multi-million dollar referendum to invest in energy projects. That idea is in the earliest of stages, Johnson said.

Passing such a referendum will take a lot more research and evidence to show voters a potential energy savings.

If nothing else, Johnson said, there is at least an awareness of energy needs and use in the community.

“We all know we need to do something,” Johnson said.