Connecting Food, Farmers, And Business Dollars In Newtown

By Kendra Bobowick

Can economic development be green? “Absolutely,” said Economic Development Commission member Ted Kreinik, also on the Clean Energy Task Force, who has been juggling ideas involving food security, solar power, agriculture, and the economy.

Set aside visions of industrial smokestacks and think first of tomatoes, corn, or other local goods, he said, naming several nearby farmers. “We have a lot of agricultural land here.” From the hayfields and tractors come thoughts of nurseries and groves in town — some of which contribute to farmers’ markets or participate in Farm to Chef programs supplying local restaurants with produce. Wishing to further promote the town’s agricultural base, Mr Kreinik noted, for one, that “we have to make commitments to our farmers.” Consider the benefits of several hundred people entering a contract to buy from one or another of the local farmers in town, he said. “That is the kind of thing we would want to do.”

Business, agricultural land, solar panels, ethanol are all thoughts on his mind. How can Newtown benefit? “We have to follow up and we have to look at it,” he said. Naming boards and commissions in town from zoning to conservation, he notes they all should be involved.

“We want green and economically friendly,” he said. The Economic Development Commission “is attuned to this. There are a lot of people who want to do good for this town. You can provide jobs, a healthy meal, and less of a carbon footprint,” he said.

Also thinking in green, Clean Energy Task Force Chairman Dan Holmes this week spoke further about green living and the economy. “Development for development’s sake isn’t good. We like open space, which is why we moved, stayed, or came back here,” he said. But Mr Holmes also notes how much the town has grown in business and population, and offers the advice, “Intelligent planning is critical.” What happens now will matter in the future, he said.

Energy is “huge” for him, and he sees potential changes already beginning. Solar panels earned by the municipality through state incentives will likely be installed at Reed Intermediate School, and potentially additional installations through private companies could follow, he said. New buildings such as the Newtown Youth Academy also have solar panels to offset energy consumption.

Also gaining attention is the possibility of locally produced energy from solar, wind, or geothermal sources. Keep an eye on the grid, said Mr Kreinik. Generate energy; go solar, he said.

Mr Kreinik asked the Economic Development Commission (EDC) members and Director of Planning and Community Development Elizabeth Stocker Tuesday to consider a solar farm. Solar is not stipulated in the uses for current grant funds available to the commission, however, which members discussed.

A Solar Farm At The Technology Park?

Mr Holmes had mentioned solar when he spoke to economic commission members last month. This week First Selectman Joe Borst considered solar installations at the technology park, naming a spot near the water treatment plant at the end of Commerce Road. “The lower part would be ideal for solar,” he said.

Speculating, Mr Borst noted that a solar company could sell the renewable energy to the town. EDC member Robert Rau did not mention the technology park as a potential solar location, but hinted Monday that a parcel similar to the park on a site that is “not great for traditional open space or economic development,” could potentially welcome a solar farm.

Follow The Money

In October the state Department of Economic and Community Development mailed a letter to the first selectman indicating that the town could “reprogram” $125,000 in funding from the initial $500,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), from 2004. The letter states that the town can transfer this balance to the Fairfield Hills campus, “where the funding may be used to carry out responsible development principles.”

Talking about a potential transfer Tuesday, Ms Stocker sought local EDC members’ thoughts. Do they or don’t they want the money to go to Fairfield Hills?

With tech park plans still too far from applying remaining grant funds, member Mitch Bolinski noted, “If we’re going to lose [money] potentially, why not redirect it to Fairfield Hills?” They have a need, he said. “It’s the EDCs responsibility to help.”

Seeing a different possibility that would keep the money in the tech park, Mr Kreinik asked if the funds could be rerouted to solar panel installations. Ms Stocker noted that the STEAP grant did not include solar projects.

Ultimately, the EDC has not made a decision regarding the funding. Ms Stocker imagines asking for an extension on a budget period that ends in June 2009. “Changes have not been determined yet. We don’t know yet,” she said Wednesday.

Originally, the commission had rejected ideas of rerouting funds to Fairfield Hills, but the topic “will be under consideration for the rest of the [budget] period,” said outgoing Chairmen Chet Hopper. “Between now and then we’ll make some decisions.” He does not want to see potential funds vanish. “We don’t want to block the town from having it.” The question of whether or not the cash flows to the tech park, Fairfield Hills, or finds approval for other projects remains open.