capeannenergy.org

For anyone who might have missed it, below is a copy of Jerry Oppenheim and Theo MacGregor's 10/27/05 Letter to the Editor in the Gloucester Daily Times. Visit Theo and Jerry's website here.

America needs a new energy policy

To the editor:
Your editorial of Sept. 29 on a "sensible, reasoned energy policy" included a nod to conservation, but that is where the reason seems to end. The policy recommendations focus on increasing supplies of oil and natural gas at the expense of the environment, including drilling in Alaska. The editorial asserts that "modern technology can extract vast quantities of oil from a minimal footprint on the environment," but that this has been opposed by "concerns over caribou living in a wilderness that few will ever see win the day." However, the U.S. Geological Service estimates that only seven months of economically recoverable oil exists in the Arctic National Wildlife refuge, and it would take 10 years to get it. As for a "small footprint," according to the National Resources Defense Council, "U.S. Geological Survey studies have found that oil in the refuge isn't concentrated in a single, large reservoir. Rather, it's spread across the coastal plain in more than 30 small deposits, which would ... fragment the habitat, disturbing and displacing wildlife."

We have worked in the energy field for a 50 years -- as a lawyer, regulator and advocates -- designing, winning, and overseeing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Our recommendations for a "sensible, reasoned energy policy" would increase the deployment of clean and renewable energy resources while using those energy resources we have now more efficiently. This would include steps, such as:

1. Tightened CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards for American cars and trucks (especially SUVs);


2. Additional investments in mass and inter-city transit;


3. Higher energy efficiency building code standards;


4. Stricter energy efficiency appliance standards;


5. Additional financial incentives for weatherization for homes, schools, office buildings and factories;


6. More incentives to develop low-cost renewable energy technologies as wind power and biofuels;


7. More incentives to develop and install technologies that use conventional fuels more efficiently;


8. More thoughtful management of the high-cost fuels we still need, such as strategic storage of natural gas, heating oil and gasoline as well as hedged purchases of natural gas by electric and gas utilities;


9. Strict adherence to environmental rules and regulations, rather than undercutting them as the current Environmental Protection Agency is doing; and


10. Pressure on the oil companies to reopen refineries they shut down when profits were not sufficiently obscene.

Jerrold Oppenheim
Theo MacGregor
Middle Street, Gloucester

Posted by monty at 11:40 AM | Permalink

From the Renewable Energy Trust website:

Varian Semiconductor Equipment seeks to investigate the feasibility of employing wind energy to power their world headquarters facility in the Blackburn Industrial Park in Gloucester. Varian designs, manufactures and services semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. A growing operation in Gloucester is expected to demand larger electric loads. According to wind speed maps, Varian’s site possesses wind resources to make a large wind turbine viable. This award will assist with the installation a meteorological instrumentation to measure the wind resource at this location and determine the economic feasibility of installing a wind turbine. In addition to a financial assessment, the study will include analysis of avian impacts, electrical interconnection, and a photo-simulation.

Visit their site to read the Feasibility Study.

Posted by monty at 11:16 AM | Permalink

From The Gloucester Times, Friday, October 21, 2005
+++
Feeling green?

A local advocacy group is trying to encourage more of that on Cape Ann.

The Cape Ann Climate Change Network, a group of residents formed three years ago, has been advocating for conservation, awareness of global warming and local solutions to energy dependence.

"It's a group of interested people, some with technical backgrounds, some with a strong interest in climate change and energy efficiency, energy security,looking at how Cape Ann could move toward energy efficiency," said Timothy Greiner, the group's leader. "There's a huge interest in energy efficiency because of Katrina and the recent rise in all kinds of energy prices."

Recently, Greiner said the group has been putting its energy into promoting a new program offered by Massachusetts Electric Co. called Green Up. This month Mass. Electric, now a part of National Grid, will distribute sign-up cards for the program in customers' bills.

The program is an option for customers to choose electricity that comes from renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines, biomass incinerators or solar power. Those who volunteer for the program will pay between $6 and $12 extra, depending on the options chosen.

"For every dollar that's spent, we get money back for renewable energy projects in our town," said Greiner.

Steve Magoon, an administrator in the planning office, says the city is eligible to receive $3,500 for renewable energy projects or for energy conservation purposes.

"It's available to us, but we haven't taken advantage of it yet because we're hoping to get more people to participate and get more money," said Magoon. "Once you get a substantial amount together, then it's possible to do something more significant."

Greiner said he understands that many people live within tight budgets and could not handle the extra expense.

"It's not for everybody, because you do have to pay more. I signed up for Green Up and what I did in conjunction is I did an energy efficiency audit of my own house and found a couple of places to be more efficient," he said. "It's not for everybody, but it's a way to make a difference if you can. The program's not perfect, but it's a huge step forward."

The group will string a banner across Main Street this week to encourage support for Green Up. If 3 percent of the city's population signs up, Gloucester will receive a one-time payment of just under $21,000 from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

In the last three years, the Cape Ann Climate Change Network has worked with the city to promote wind turbines for spot projects, such as a water treatment facility or a school, and to make municipal buildings more energy efficient.
"We campaigned to Mayor (John) Bell to establish a renewable energy committee, which he did," said Greiner. "It now allows the city to get up to $25,000 in services from a quasi-state organization that can look at possible sites for windmills and that's an important development. There are a number of communities along the shore that are looking at renewable energy. Hull has a turbine, Lynn is looking at two turbines to power their wastewater treatment plant."
Bell said that the Mayor's Renewable Energy Committee is an advisory group and will soon advise the City Council as well.

"The mandate of the committee was to do quite a bit of talking to bring new ideas, but also to come up with solutions to implement in the short term to help," he said.

The committee is working with Varian to consider two wind turbines at the Blackburn Industrial Park.

"At the same time, the committee has asked me to have the (Massachusetts Technology Collaborative) take a look at our industrial parks, at Fuller School and O'Maley School and the feasibility of recommending alternative wind energy for those sites," said Bell.

Greiner said the group will focus on promoting Green Up for the remainder of the year. It is premature to discuss plans for next year, he added.

The Cape Ann Climate Change Network
Year Started: 2002
Number of members: About 25
Goals: Increase use of renewable energy sources, encourage energy conservation, initiate business and government projects to reduce greenhouse emissions

Posted by monty at 09:14 AM | Permalink

Green Up: You Can Make A Difference!
GreenUp allows you to choose cleaner, healthier electricity right on your regular utility bill and is available to all Massachusetts Electric residential and small commercial customers. The GreenUp program drives regional clean energy development by making payments to renewable wind, solar, biomass, and small hydro producers.

Local Communities Benefit from the Program!

For every dollar a spent on renewable energy, the Massachusetts Technology Colaborative will match it in two ways:

• Up to one dollar will go to the town or city for renewable energy educational materials or projects.
• Up to one additional dollar will go to low-income renewable and energy efficiency projects.

How Much Will A Town Receive?

If, for example, a consumer pays $12 per month for renewable electricity and MTC matches 50%, MTC will provide $6 per month or $72 per year to that consumers community and an additional $6 per month for low-income projects. As you can see below, this can quickly add up: If there are 10 participants each of whose purchases is matched $6 monthly, MTC will provide $720 each year to the community.

• If there are 25 participants, MTC will provide $1,800.
• If there are 100 participants, MTC will provide $7,200.
• If there are 300 participants, MTC will provide $21,600.

Sign Up Before December 31st 2005!!!

If the town gets 3% of households to sign up by January 1, 2006, it gets a one time payment for renewable energy education & projects:

How Much Will it Cost Me?

For a typical Massachusetts home that uses 500 kilowatt-hours per month, participating in GreenUp with Community Energy will add $6 to $12 per month to your electric bill, depending on which option you choose. Please note this cost is tax deductible.

How do I sign up?

Signing up is easy. Look in your October Bill for an enrolement form or download a pdf of the form here. Cape Ann Climate Change Network thanks you for your support of the GreenUp program. We can make a difference!

Posted by monty at 04:18 PM | Permalink

Many of us on Cape Ann are aware that our dependence on fossil fuels is causing air and water pollution and health problems as well as forcing us to build pipelines that degrade the ecological systems that support life. At the same time, fossil fuel dependence means reliance and political ties to many non-democratic régimes. The Cape Ann Climate Change Network (C3 Network) is a network of Cape Ann residents, businesses, and government officials working to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and minimize our emissions of greenhouse gas emissions.

Our goals are to:

• educate the community on the perils of global warming and the impacts of US dependence on fossil fuel energy;


• initiate business and government projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;


• promote strategies to mitigate our personal contributions to global warming;


• increase the affordability of energy services (heat, electricity) through conservation and efficiency efforts; and


• increase our use of renewable resources.

Posted by monty at 04:04 PM | Permalink

To Cape Ann Energy

Recent events have brought a sharp focus on this country's need to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources. While this has been an issue for some time, these recent events have made this issue more prominent for all Americans. When you combine the increased costs, and the environmental impacts that this consumption creates, it is clear that it is in all of our interests to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. In Gloucester we have been working on this issue for some time, and have approached the issue on several fronts.

The first approach is to reduce consumption, and we have approached this through our citizens, our government, and our facilities. The School Committee has brought on facility management staff and consultants, who will be able to change behavioral aspects of staff and reduce energy needs by a third. I have asked all of my managers to consider their operations and report to our Department of Public Works Director on ways that we can also reduce consumption in our operations. This will look at everything from idling vehicles to turning off computers at night. The City also continues to look for other ways to encourage conservation.

I have also appointed an energy committee called the Gloucester Renewable Energy Committee. The group helps Gloucester consider alternative energy sources and encourage their use. The group has already been briefed on the proposal at Varian to locate wind turbines. It has also contacted the Massachusetts Technology Council to further evaluate wind resources with the goal of possibly locating a facility to supply a City facility. The Committee is also promoting the Clean Energy Choice program. This program involves consumers opting to purchase their electricity from a clean energy source. There is a cost associated with this, but it also allows for a portion of these funds to come back to the community to be spent in furtherance of the use clean energy sources and the education of its citizens. The more citizens that participate in this program increases the grant amount that comes back to the community to support these efforts.

Clearly there still is much work to be done. I encourage all residents of our City, its businesses and institutions to look for ways that you can help to reduce our consumption and encourage our use of renewable sources of energy. Together we can be a leader, addressing these important issues for our community and our country.

Posted by monty at 03:54 PM | Permalink

Think of it as the Kyoto Protocol for your car.

You can learn more about this program at www.terrapass.com

Posted by monty at 11:31 AM | Permalink

October 5, 2005

Senator Bruce Tarr
Room 313-A
State House
Boston, MA 02133

Dear Senator Tarr,

We are writing to encourage you to support the Energy Efficiency Standards bill, HB 4299 now in the State Senate, and to help move the bill through the Senate. As you know, greater energy efficiency standards would save consumers and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars on their electricity and natural gas bills, while improving air quality and reliability of the electricity grid here in the Commonwealth, and cutting global warming emissions.

We on Cape Ann recognize the importance of this issue and appreciate the leadership you have provided on energy and environmental matters. Your recent sponsorship of the bill on hybrids is a great example of this.

HB 4299 passed in the House by an overwhelming majority. We hope your leadership will help the bill gain victory in the Senate as well.

Sincerely,

Cape Ann Climate Action Network
47R Englewood Rd
Gloucester, MA 01930
www.capeannenergy.org

Posted by monty at 04:23 PM | Permalink

If adding solar power to your home or business is of interest to you, there are rebates available.

This from Mass Energy Consumers Alliance:

The Mass. Technology Collaborative is seeking applications for its "Small Renewables Initiative. They invite rebate applications of up to $50,000 for design and construction of renewable energy projects that are up to 10 kilowatts in size. For systems above 10 kW, look for details on MTC's upcoming Large Renewables Initiative.

Click here for more info.

Posted by monty at 11:07 AM | Permalink

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has been working with ten communities in the North Shore region to provide technical and educational assistance for the siting of onshore wind turbines with the goal of increasing public acceptability for these projects. The goal of this work is to create an integration strategy for renewable energy into the regional growth strategy. The communities in the study include Beverly, Essex, Gloucester, Ipswich, Lynn, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Rockport, Salem and Swampscott.

The North Shore Wind project has generated considerable interest by communities around the North Shore. Both Swampscott and Gloucester have just appointed Renewable Energy Committees, which will allow them access to free technical assistance from the UMass Renewable Energy Lab to investigate potential wind turbine sites. Beverly, Rockport and Salem will have follow up presentations from the Community Wind Collaborative this summer, to learn more about the program and then consider appointing Renewable Energy Committees of their own. Working with Community Wind, Eastham, Falmouth, Orleans and Lynn have all appointed Renewable Energy Committees and erected MET towers to test wind sites. The Lynn City Council will consider adopting the MAPC-drafted wind turbine siting ordinance this summer. Read more and see the wind maps for the North Shore communities here...

Posted by monty at 10:06 AM | Permalink