Dave Mayberry, Warden of Oxford County
Dave Mayberry, Warden of Oxford County
Midwestern

Oxford County Shares Energy Plan With Huron

A recent presentation by the Warden of Oxford County to Huron County council generated a lot of interest.

Dave Mayberry started his presentation by stating his council has set a goal for the county of getting 100% of their energy from renewable sources by the year 2050.

"We spend more than $300-million a year on energy that leaves the county," he said. "That's money that every year has to be produced in the county and then shipped out of the county. If we could start reducing that year by year by year, pretty soon that money stays in the county and we can re-invest it in ourselves.”

Mayberry also stated everything they're planning on doing has already been developed.

"The exception and I'll say developed... is it economically feasible today, maybe not, particularly around hydrogen, we're still working on that one. But everything else we're doing is already available,” he said

He admits it's not all economically viable today so somethings need a little more work, but it's all available today. Mayberry also points out they don't believe the key to reducing energy costs is lowering those costs.

He says global consumption has tripled over the last 50 years and recently China and India have started to grow their middle class which will further increase consumption, so the price isn't likely to come down. He says even if the price goes up a little, but a consumer reduces their consumption by half, the overall cost is reduced and that's what Oxford is hoping to do by converting to renewable energy and eliminating the need to spend money on conventional sources.

 

Read More Local Stories