Hello everyone!

Congratulations on making your way onto our new Pioneer Valley Clean Energy discussion site. We thought this one would provide a broader context for the work we're doing together here. Hope you enjoy the videos and help build the other resources here.

In this discussion, we'd like you to give us an update on what's going on in W Mass relating to sustainable energy. If you know about new projects, the new Green Communities Energy bill, the green jobs programs, new planning commission initiatives, or new funding programs (like Commonwealth Solar), please let us know. There are many new developments. Maybe together we can begin to put the pieces together!

You can find the plan related documents here

Post edited by: LynnBenander, at: 2008/02/07 12:07

Post edited by: richr, at: 2008/02/07 17:03

Hello energy efficiency, conservation, reduced use and clean energy advocates:
Thank you all for joining this forum. I am writing to update you on the efforts of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to take action to implement the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy plan. Over the last two and half months me and my intern, Robert Rocheleau contacted all 43 communities in Hamsphire and Hampden counties, seeking the municipalities' endorsement of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to work to implement the Clean Energy Plan.
To date 24 communities have signed the MOA, 2 have officially decided to not sign it, 6 are considering it and I haven't heard back from 11.
I plan to be in touch with the remaining 17 communities who haven't yet voted on the MOA in the next few weeks. If anyone wants to help, please contact me at cmiller@pvpc.org or 413/781-6045. Communities that need follow-up are: Agawam, Granville, Hadley, Middlefield, Montgomery, Palmer, Plainfield, Tolland, Ware, West Springfield, and Williamsburg.
Also I want you all to know that the Pioneer Valley had one of the highest rates of requests for energy audit funding from DOER of any region in the Commonwealth. And--a coalition of the not for profit members of the Pioneer Valley Renewable Energy Collaborative are working on an unsolicited proposal to MTC to secure funding to work on implementing the plan.
I'd love to hear what you all know about efforts related to implementation of our clean energy plan.
-Catherine

Hello everyone: One more thing...
from the Massachusetts Climate Action Network:
On March 6th the State Senate passed the "Global Warming Solutions Act," now numbered S. 2540.

The bill, filed by Senator Marc Pacheco, requires the Commonwealth to create a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The bill went through the Senate with few amendments, and on voice votes, meaning no recorded roll calls were taken. The new version of the bill may be viewed here http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02540.htm.

The bill now goes to the House, where it currently sits in the House Ways and Means Committee, where the road to passage is much less clear. For updated information on the status of this and other important climate information, check out the "Take Action" tab on the MCAN webiste which is: www.massclimateaction.net
Thanks
-Catherine

Greening West County, the West County Sustainable Energy Action Committee, brought out Rob Garrity (rob.garrity@gmail.com) from the Massachusetts Climate Action Network a couple weeks ago to help us think about forming town energy committees. He was a great speaker and it was clear to all of us at the meeting that joining MCAN was a great thing to do both as individuals ($30 to $50 a year) and as energy committees and organizations. They do a great job of keeping us informed about policy issues in Massachusetts and they help us advocate for policies that support consumers and communities. Here's the link to join or contribute:
http://massclimateaction.net/take-action/join-or-contribute.html

Nils Bolgen from the Mass Technology Collaborative and others will be at the next meeting of Greening West County on Thursday April 3rd at 7 pm to talk about grants, rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives for renewable energy systems. It will be held at the Shelburne Falls Fire Station on State St in Buckland. All are welcome to attend.