Selectmen Support Clean Energy, Wind Power

By Kendra Bobowick

“The ball is in their court now,” said First Selectman Joe Borst Wednesday.

The selectmen Tuesday liked what they heard coming from Clean Energy Task Force Chairman Daniel Holmes regarding his suggestions for the town’s clean energy participation — to purchase 26 percent of its power from renewable sources by the year 2010, favoring a national wind option through Community Energy. They asked for a formal letter to review with a full board present. Monday’s meeting found Mr Borst and Selectman Paul Mangiafico at the table, but Selectman Herb Rosenthal was absent.

What is clean energy? Why national wind? What will it cost? The questions were asked and answered this week as Mr Holmes made his recommendations, including the decision to reach for 26 percent.

“We would like to see 26 percent…We’d like to be the green town of Connecticut,” he noted, through the state’s incentive to municipalities to achieve “20 percent by 2010,” or to draw at least 20 percent of its energy needs off the grid through clean power. Mr Holmes agrees with other task force members who would like to see Newtown in the forefront. He suggests making the purchase in increments, bumping up the percentage each year. Lending a hand, the state will contribute five, then six, then seven percent in the coming years. It will cost roughly $16,000 based on the slightly increased “clean” kilowatt-hour, he said.

Surprising Mr Holmes, Mr Mangiafico said, “I think it’s a great idea — why are you asking for 26 percent and not 100?”

Mr Holmes had an answer ready. Rather than committing 100 percent to national wind power, Mr Holmes wanted room to maneuver. “Maybe we could look at other options…” Solar panels, for one, are already on their way because of the town’s public and private strides to go green. Per household, going green will cost several additional dollars monthly.

With a glimpse into the reasons behind Mr Mangiafico’s support, he said, “We better do something in this country. It’s not going to get better.” To Mr Holmes and the Clean Energy Task Force members he said, “I commend you.”

What did they need from the selectmen, Mr Borst wanted to know? “Let’s be the leader,” Mr Holmes said. If another town in the state was already at 26 percent, he suggested Newtown bump its clean energy purchase to 30 percent, for example. Mr Borst, who later stated, “We’re very much in favor of doing what we can to go green,” again asked Mr Holmes Monday, “What do you need from us?”

Mr Holmes said, “I am submitting a recommendation,” he explained, promoting Community Energy’s national wind options. Anticipating the full board’s future decision, Mr Mangiafico said, “If [Mr Borst] and I are in agreement, I think it will happen.”

Learn more about Community Energy at Newwindenergy.com. According to information on the site, “Partnered with Iberdola Renewables, the world’s largest wind energy developer, Community Energy, Inc. (CEI) is helping to build new wind farms nationwide. Working with customers, landowners and local communities, we are bringing the benefits of wind power to more than 15 states from New England to the Rocky Mountains, benefiting local communities and the environment.”

Mr Holmes is encouraged to see that the company is investing in infrastructure — wind farms — in this country.