HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-14 Cities for Climate Protection MinutesJ
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9-14-05
Members: Ron Daddario, Stephanie Anderberg, Gina Snyder
Attendees: Tracy Sopchak and guest: Mary Ellen O'Neill
Mary Ellen is Reading's representative on the Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) to the
Reading Municipal Light Dept. (RMLD) - she's just been named to the board by the
Selectmen (since Fred Magnuson retired) and they haven't met yet. Two members are
from business and residential in Wilmington, on each from Reading, North Reading and
Lynnfield. They are advisory and review the operations and capital plans, the long term
power contracts and other things. The Chair is Roger Lasard from Wilmington. Mary
Ellen will ask if the CAB will meet with this committee so that perhaps the whole RMLD
area could be included. At least RMLD might be able to provide support since the CCP
program would provide major energy conservation opportunities.
Ron spoke with Medford - they've made some major progress toward energy
conservation, have solar panels and an EV. Their environmental planner is 100% behind
the program, very enthusiastic.
Stephanie spoke with Cambridge - they said working with CCP is done entirely at the
town's own pace. The Environmental planner is the contact, but wears many hats, doesn't
do the CCP campaign full time by any means, it varies, but less than weekly. Initially the
evaluation sometimes gets done and then a town may stagnate on this program, the ICLEI
organization encourages but doesn't finger point if the town isn't making a lot of
progress.
Utility enterprise fund
Reading may have an advantage on transportation patterns because of the I-95/ I-93
interchange work. The CCP program has formulae for fuel oil and climate adjustment
conversions.
Reading also has trash hauled by a single contract, which can feed easily into the
calculations.
ICLEI's purpose is simply to get more people working on climate protection. Cambridge
said it's worth it if only for the networking. They were very positive about the program.
Gina passed around information on the Doyle Center (Trustees of Reservations green
building in Leominster). She is waiting for call-backs from Amherst, Arlington and
Windsor. Northampton did not return call (they were very new - May 2005, maybe no
info as yet).
Ron reported on Medford. Focus is on renewable energy. Paid staff (Pat) with an intern.
Regional concept, level of effort you put in depends on town. ICLEI's Kim's been very
helpful. Solar panels on buildings, they have an EV, and are looking at wind power, clean
city program. They have active committees.
Pat will be at the Lars Anderson museum on Sunday at the Alt-Wheels festival, and Ron
may try to meet her there. She's very committed to the program and absolutely
` recommends it.
The committee members formally unanimously elected Ron as chair and Gina as
secretary of the group.
Tracy asked to be able to help, offered to enter data if funds for an intern were not
available. Ron indicated that she should be paid if she is the intern.
Tracy offered to call some towns, was assigned Gloucester and Shutesbury as Stephanie
has a contact in, and will call, Newton.
Informal meeting scheduled for Sept 21 to outline what would be in a presentation, and
next meeting Sept. 28 (but possibly with CAB). Ron will post and get locations.