Energy Group
Members:
| Karen Horn, Chair | Don Wexler | Virginia Farley |
| Jack Byrne | Mike DeMotsis | Maxine Grad |
| John Lynch | Jay Pilliod | Tom Horn |
| Anne MacMillan |
In September 2009, the Moretown Energy Committee secured a Climate Change grant from the Agency of Natural Resources in the amount of $12,000 to make energy efficiency/weatherization improvements to the Town Hall as part of the restoration of that building. Much of the work has been accomplished as the Town Hall is newly insulated and furnaces have been installed. In the end the Agency of Natural Resources reimbursed the Town for $9,760 in insulation and window repair and weatherization costs.
On October 22 the Energy Committee offered an excellent Button Up Vermont workshop. The few participants learned about fundamentals of how homes lose energy, simple do-it-yourself measures for incremental energy savings, significant saving opportunities associated with extensive energy retrofits, and available technical and financial resources. An accompanying video on “Simple Weatherization Measures to Button Up Your Home” and information about energy auditors in the area is available for loan from the Moretown Town Library.
The Moretown Energy Group is participating as a contributor on the new energy wiki for the Mad River Valley. A wiki is a website that can be edited by anyone seeking to provide information on the subject of discussion. You can get lots of information about events in the area and on-going efforts to increase energy efficiency and use of renewable technology in our towns at that website, mrvenergy.org.
The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) has received economic stimulus funding to assist municipalities and the Washington County Court House with implementing energy efficiency measures. CVRPC has funds available to perform energy and lighting audits on municipally-owned buildings and potentially will have funds available to undertake subsequent weatherization measures identified by the audits. CVRPC also anticipates receiving additional funding from the VT Department of Public Service to provide technical assistance to new and existing town energy committees with primary focus on committee development (i.e. capacity building) and project implementation. Anticipated start date is June 2010. The Moretown Energy Committee intends to access both these funding opportunities.
And finally, the Energy Committee is investigating local interest in participation in a clean energy assessment district as the attached sheet describes. Should there be interest, the Energy Committee will approach the selectboard with a proposal for putting an item on the ballot in 2011.
Are you interested in joining the energy committee? Please contact Karen Horn at the e-mail below.
Respectfully Submitted,
Moretown Energy Committee
Karen Horn, Chair, kebhorn@gmail.com
Page updated June 3, 2010