Within the renewable energy debate is opportunity; the opportunity for communities to utilize their resources not only to address energy efficiency and environmental concerns, but also to stimulate business.

According to Avon Lake Councilwoman Jennifer Fenderbosch, there might not be a better opportunity than in Avon Lake. She said she first considered the idea after attending meetings in Cleveland.

"Avon Lake juts out into the lake where there is lots of energy," Fenderbosch said. "We receive three times the national standard for a true wind turbine."

Fenderbosch said that preliminary meetings with state and local leaders on renewable energy have included an "outpouring of interest."

"I am so excited about this," Fenderbosch said. "We want to be the green city on the blue lake."

Renewable energies are natural resources that are replenished, such as wind, sunlight, hydropower and geothermal sources. Wind power is widely used in Europe and is one of the fastest growing renewable energies. Wind turbines use the kinetic energy of the wind to create electricity through the conversion of mechanical energy.

Wind turbines require consistent high wind speeds, often determined by a wind resource assessment. These assessments measure whether a location would be suitable for wind farms. The city, Fenderbosch said, benefits from two wind sources - a prevailing wind out of the southwest and a convection wind off the lake.

To consider the possibility of wind turbines and other renewable energy, the Avon Lake Public Service Committee is organizing a Renewable Energy Taskforce, made up of citizens and industries with expertise or a background in energy.

Fenderbosch outlined the responsibilities of the task force: "There are two parts: First, we need to evaluate our current plan to make sure we are ratcheting down usage. Second, we want the task force to evaluate proposals received from developers."

Fenderbosch wants to tap into the community expertise with the intent of making recommendations to the Public Service Committee of City Council.

"We want to use the community at large, those with experience in energy and the surrounding industries, to come together to evaluate the energy plan," Fenderbosch said. This expertise will also be used in reviewing proposals. "The task force will intelligently review the proposals and make certain there are no errors, that it is safe."

In tapping into this brain trust, Councilman Marty O'Donnell would like to put together a plan to consider both the "best benefit and best direction" for renewable energy in Avon Lake. In addition, he hopes that this task force will include representatives from government.

"We would like representatives from the county and state to be present," O'Donnell said. "They might be able to help with grant funding."

People interested in serving on the Renewable Energy Taskforce are asked to submit their resumes and letters of interest to the Council clerk by Aug. 15.