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TheCityofEugeneshouldpartnerwithappropriateagenciestoestablishlowinterestloans <br /> andothersupportstoencouragetheuseofrenewableenergysystemsinlow-incomehousing <br /> projects. <br />TheCityofEugeneshouldworkwithLaneMetroPartnershipandothereconomic <br /> developmentagenciestoexploretherecruitmentofrenewableenergysystemcomponent <br /> manufacturerstoEugene. <br />TheCityofEugeneshouldreconsidersolaraccessissuesandcodesaspartofthegreen <br /> buildingcodereview. <br />TheCityofEugeneshouldencourageorworkwiththefederalgovernmentorthestateto <br /> increaseincentivesforsolarcomponentsonexistingbuildings. <br />EWEB,EPUD,andotherlocalutilitiesshouldconsiderthepossibilityofcreatingasolar <br /> utilityusingtheconceptsdevelopedbymembersofthelocalsolarindustry. <br />EWEB,EPUDandotherlocalutilitiesshoulddocumentthecarbondioxideemissions <br /> generatedbyeachcustomerthroughtheirenergyuseontheirmonthlybills. <br />EWEB,EPUD,otherlocalutilitiesandtheCityofEugeneshouldconsiderestablishinga <br /> localCO2offsetprogramwherebyareabusinessesandhouseholdscouldvoluntarilypaya <br /> setamountintoacommonfundforeverypoundofcarbondioxidetheygenerate,with <br /> therevenuegeneratedbythefundreinvestedinlocalrenewableenergyandCO2 <br /> reductionprojects. <br />Representativesofthelocalandrenewablesindustryshouldformapermanent <br /> organizationornetworkingmechanismtodiscusscommonproblems,shareideas,and <br /> waystoaddressissuesthataffecttheentiresector. <br />Risinggasprices,concernsaboutenergyindependenceandthecontributionofCO2emissions <br />fromfossilfuelstoglobalwarming,andnewfederalregulationsmandatingultralowsulfurdiesel <br />(ULSD)thatbecomeactiveinSeptember2006aredrivingrapidgrowthofthebiofuelsindustry <br />throughouttheU.S.andtheNorthwest. <br />Biofuelsarealternativesoradditivestofossilbasedfuelsmadefromorganicmaterials.Themost <br />widelyusedbiofuelsarebiodieselandethanol,withmoreactivitytakingplacelocallyaround <br />biodiesel.Dueinparttocost,limitedsupply,lackofaccess,andsomelimitationsinolder <br />vehicles,mostbiofuelsaresoldblendedwithpetroleum-basedfuels.TheU.S.Departmentof <br />Energyreportsthatbiodieselcontributesalmost80%lesslifecyclecarbondioxidethanregular <br />diesel.Biofuelsalsoreducehumanhealthproblemsresultingfromtailpipeemissions.Theyare <br />arenewableresource,canbeproduceddomestically,andarebiodegradableandnon-toxic.In <br />addition,biofuelsprovidesocial-economictofarmersbecausetheycanbeusedincrop <br />rotationsandoffermarketopportunitiesforoilseedcropssuchascanolaorrapeseed.Nearby <br />ruralcommunitiescanfromthesaleofwoodybiomass,otherwiseconsideredwaste,for <br />productionofethanol.Biodieselcrushingandplantsalsoofferruraljobopportunities. <br />InMarch2005,thedemandforethanolblendedfuelsinOregon,WashingtonandCalifornia <br />reachedthreebilliongallons,whiletheproductioncapacityforethanolwasonlyat9.7million <br />13 <br />gallons.Itislikelythatincreasedpublicityforandaccesstobiofuelswillcontinuetopush <br />demandhigher.IftheWestCoastbeginsusingB-2,the500milliongallonsofhighwaydiesel <br /> <br />