Jordan running for NLI board
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March 26, 2014 |
By Don Jordan
 I
am running for the position of Northern Lights
Inc. Director, District 6, because of my long
standing interest in energy generation and
energy efficiency. I see conservation as a prime
way of reducing our inevitable increase in
electrical costs.
My involvement in home design and construction
for over 30 years gives me familiarity with all
aspects of residential energy use and
conservation. Our homes require more energy than
any other single thing in our lives - around 39%
of our total energy use is in the home. We can
reduce this energy use without sacrificing our
quality of life. We can give up drafty homes and
high utility bills ... the costs for the
improvements are an investment, both for us as
homeowners and for the utility companies
I have been fascinated with electrical
generation since 1976 when I worked for the Army
Corps of Engineers as a park ranger at and
around hydropower projects in Oregon. I had the
opportunity to learn a lot from engineers and
controllers. We are fortunate to have available
hydropower in the northwest - but it is not an
unlimited commodity.
Our population continues to rise and electrical
use will further increase with electric cars and
other worthwhile uses for electricity ... we
will need more generation capability.
Where can we get more electricity? Solar and
wind are currently not economical, but their
prices are coming down. At some point solar and
wind will compete directly with coal and natural
gas, but neither will be as cheap as existing
hydropower. Currently, natural gas fired
generators are a reasonable option.
I suppose we could put more dams on the Snake,
Selway, Rogue and a few other rivers - but I
hope a crisis does not push us to that. We could
also build nuclear generators and deal with
those issues ... not a first choice for most of
us.
None of these options is cheap or will produce
cheap electricity - but improving energy
conservation in our homes can be cheap, and does
not require new generators. Let's do what we can
to save energy while we figure the best way to
generate more.
Northern Lights has an energy efficiency
incentive program - but I think the program can
be better promoted - and they can do more.
Northern Lights is motivated to do more - they
understand there is a looming shortage and there
will be many discussions of how to deal with
future energy needs.
I think I can be a worthwhile contributor to
those discussions. I have a good idea of what
will work for residential energy conservation
and can help promote it.
I have lived in Boundary and Bonner County since
1979. I know that makes me a "new comer" - but I
have tried to be an active participant in the
community. I have been an active member of the
Boundary County Airport Board for 20 years, a
number of years as chairman. I am an active
member of the Kootenai Valley Rifle and Pistol
Club and have helped coach the Junior Rifle Club
for over 30 years. I routinely volunteer for
worthwhile civic projects and have been quick to
lend a hand, hammer or blueprints - and
occasionally even offer an opinion.
I feel that the person is more important than
the credential - but I did receive a Bachelor of
Science degree from Kansas State University,
where I studied Architecture and Conservation
Biology.
I look forward to the opportunity to help
Northern Lights (OUR member owned cooperative)
prepare for the electrical demands of the
future.
Thank you for your vote; a vote that will work
for YOU. |
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