Have the lights truly gone out on the Leelanau County Energy Futures Task Force (EFTF)? Last Tuesday's decision by the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners has left the future of this important group in doubt. The EFTF was created last fall with a one-year mandate to identify energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities in the county. However, that timeline has now expired, and the board has rejected a request to continue meeting until the end of 2024.

The Impact of the EFTF's Disbandment on Leelanau County

Background and Creation of the EFTF

The EFTF was established by the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners last fall, given a one-year period to make a significant impact. Its goal was to identify and facilitate the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the county. This one-year timeline came to an end last month, leaving the future of the group uncertain.During its short existence, the EFTF worked on various initiatives to promote clean energy. They applied for multiple grants to finance energy projects in the county and also had a robust public education program. They wrote public articles for the senior services bulletin, reaching over 6,000 people and providing tips on saving energy and staying warm through the winter.

Controversies and Challenges Faced by the EFTF

Despite its good intentions, the EFTF generated significant controversy during its one-year run. Joe DeFors, the EFTF chair and board president of Leelanau Energy, repeatedly clashed with District 7 Commissioner Melinda Lautner. Lautner insisted on being a member of the 14-member task force and voted against almost all its proposed initiatives.The EFTF was also investigated by the Michigan State Police for violating the Open Meetings Act (OMA). DeFors himself was accused of conflicts of interest due to his affiliation with Leelanau Energy. However, DeFors dismissed these controversies as "non-issues," stating that they arose from confusion over the unique status of the task force.

The Impact of the EFTF's Disbandment

The disbandment of the EFTF has had a substantial impact on green policy in Leelanau County. DeFors views it as a significant blow, as it will make it harder to bring energy-related grant dollars to the county and eliminate a useful platform for "role modeling behaviors" around green energy.With the EFTF gone, the county government's ability to serve as a role model for citizens in terms of clean energy has been lost. The outstanding grant applications of the EFTF are now in limbo. They didn't secure the largest grant they sought - a $1.5 million proposal to the Michigan Public Services Commission for the government center solar project. However, there are two other grant applications still pending - one to the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability for a study on energy use and attitudes in the county, and one to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians to install electric vehicle chargers at the government center.

Partisan Debate and the Future of the EFTF

The EFTF and its work became a matter of partisan debate during the recent election cycle. Republican District 4 hopeful Jim White vocally opposed an EFTF-led effort to install solar panels at the Leelanau County Government Center. When the commissioners voted on whether to allow the task force to continue, the vote broke 2-3 along party lines, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed.The new board's support (or lack thereof) for the EFTF is a question mark. Only two current commissioners, Wessell and Allgaier, will be on the new board in January. They will be part of a Democratic minority, with four of the five new members being Republicans. DeFors fears that partisanship will be a problem going forward but will leave it up to the current members of the EFTF to decide how to proceed.In conclusion, the disbandment of the Leelanau County Energy Futures Task Force has left many questions unanswered. The impact on green policy and the county's ability to access energy-related grant dollars remains to be seen. The future of the outstanding grant applications and the potential for the EFTF to be rebooted under the new board are also uncertain. It will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds in the coming months.