Recycling and Renewable Energy Committee
Minutes from 14 November 2007, 6pm,
Council on Aging
Attendance: Michael Leger, Lee Bartell,
Ghee Patrick, Jim Denietolis, Conny Hatch, Amy Germain
Minutes: Approved as written
Presentation: Liz Argo,
SolarWrights Massachusetts Regional Manager, based in Orleans,
gave us a powerpoint presentation of both solar and
wind systems. The Gulls Nest affordable housing, just about ready off of
Rt. 6, now has its solar panels on the roof, which'll provide 3/4 of the
electric energy needs of the 12 units. How cool is that? Through
Massachusetts Technical Collaborative, there are SRIs, which is Small
Renewables Initiative, funded, if one applies for it, it's that easy; for the
LORI, or Large Onsite Renewables Initiative, one has to jump through a bunch of
hoops, and there's no guarantee at all that it will get funded. If we
apply the town will get a grant for $50,000 toward solar or wind energy.
A solar project, on a town building, will run us about $50,000, so that
the total cost of the project, while $100,000, only cost us half that. If
we applied the $50,000 grant to wind power, our cost would only be
$10-30,000. Getting $50,000 given to us for either energy, solar or wind, is quite an incentive. We spoke of the Transfer
Station, the Airport, the Elementary School as
possible sites. Liz will check them out for us. We had a long discussion
with many details; suffice it to say that we're excited about this. Amy
moved that we develop a wind and/or solar energy proposal for the warrant for
spring Town Meeting. Michael seconded it, and it
was a unanimous vote. We'll bring this info to our January 14th meeting
with the Selectboard.
Paperless Town
Hall:
Jim reported that there are now recycling bins in all offices and meeting
rooms. Amy will get back to work on the paperless issue.
Committee: We need new
members. Conny has decided to not join us after all, due to time
constraints. Anna may still be willing to be an alternative, but we
really need to find some new folks.
Race Point Windmill:
It's been taken down for the winter, so it'll be spring when we hope to have a
trip out there, with it being part of PTV's
program on us.
Website: Ghee pointed out how
fabulous the Chatham
Recycling website is: www.chathamrecycles.org
and yes, Ghee, you're right. On it, they have a lot of recycling info
from www.recycling-revolution.com,
which could be our "Did you knows" in the Banner. I just
printed out 3 pages of info that's totally appropriate for our needs. And
yes, it would be wonderful if we had such a website, all part of making
recycling easier and more fun for people.
Paper Recycling Conference:
Jim went to this, and said that it's a work in progress.
Grant: Mike checked with Edith De
Mello, but there's no news yet about our Municipal Sustainability Grant.
Funding: Mike sent a letter to
both Town Manager Sharon Lynn and DPW
Chair David Guertin, asking for the $2000 that used to be the Recycling
Committee budget, be reinstituted.
The Banner: Lee spoke with Sally
at the Banner, asking for our "Did you know. .
.?" and she said yes, that would be OK. She wants to see samples of
what we want, which Lee will bring to our next meeting.
Transfer Station: Sandy
told Lee that after Town Meeting, she'll get together to discuss the signage
for the road up to the TS. Lee would love to paint the Swap Shop
building, inside and out, and to arrange with the staff there to accept what
folks bring, including what Lisa brings from Ruthie's Boutique, and to leave it
for a while, not throwing stuff out daily. We want to see trees, paint,
goods, and smiles up on that hill.
Certificates: After a discussion,
it was decided to make the presentation to DeVita and Roderick at the Transfer
Station on Wednesday, 12 December, the late morning or early afternoon of our
next meeting date. Mike will find out the best time for all to
gather. Amy will make the certificates, get them to Jim, and we'll all
stop by his office to sign them. Jim will see if Sandy and Dave
from the DPW, and Brian from the Health
Dept. will sign them, too. Once a time is known, Lee will call the Banner
to make sure that they cover it.
Recycling Data: Jim gave us a
printout that showed recycling statistics from July through September, and it's
a huge success. We've either actually saved money, or just as well,
didn't need to spend it, both resulting in a savings to town.
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, 12 December 2007, 6pm,
don't know where yet.
NOTE:
Our January meeting will be one week early, Wednesday, 9 January 2008, 6pm,
somewhere, to prepare for our meeting with the Selectboard on Monday, January
14th, time tba.
Minutes
by Lee
Lee Bartell
9 Seashore Park Drive
Provincetown, MA 02657
508-487-8838
capewoman@cape.com
"...let us promise to make peace not just a
priority, but a passion.
Let us pledge to do more, wherever
we are in whatever way we can,
to make every day a day of
peace." Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary-General