Energy and Sustainability Committee

MISSION STATEMENT

The Energy and Sustainability Committee will work to facilitate energy efficiency and renewable energy resources for the Town and its residents, with additional focus to include reducing our contribution to greenhouse gases and promoting environmentally beneficial objectives. Employing a variety of means, the committee’s scope could range from promoting residential rain barrels and various forms of composting to adding new renewable energy generation capacity on Town-owned lands.  In acknowledgment of the ongoing electricity supply transition to renewable sources, an area of concentration will be the decarbonization of our energy use through demonstration and implementation of electric alternatives to fossil fuel powered energy consuming equipment.

The Committee will have no more than 9 voting members and a simple majority of existing membership as a quorum.  Member reappointment will be annually at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Main Street Solar

The Main Street Solar Project--which cost the Town nothing to install, maintain, or operate--has provided both clean energy to power the Town's municipal needs (excluding schools) and significant revenues offsetting energy costs. As of November 2023, the project has, on a 12-month rolling total basis, provided the Town $105,971 in net gain, comprising the value of energy production, the Payment in Lieu of Taxes, and lease payments. The cumulative total net gain comes to over $447.7K to the Town since the project's inception in December 2015. As electric energy and distribution costs continue to increase, these savings for the Town will also increase, benefiting taxpayers. 1/2024 Main Street Solar

Saving Energy and Money

In addition to seeking opportunities for clean energy production, WNESC looks to increase the Town's energy efficiency and reduce its energy waste through:

  • Tracking current expenditures on energy to prioritize improvement opportunities.
  • Conducting energy audits to look for leaks, waste and inefficiency, and potential lighting improvements.
  • Improving control of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting.
  • Reviewing plans for new facilities and equipment to identify opportunities for enhancing energy efficiency.
  • Providing outreach on energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities to Town residents.

Reducing Town energy consumption and expense will:

  • Reduce the effect of energy costs and supply fluctuations on the Town budget.
  • Reduce the Town's contribution to air pollution and climate change.
  • Encourage Town residents to realize similar benefits by taking similar actions.

West Newbury has been a designated Massachusetts Green Community since December 2013. More information on the Massachusetts Green Community Designation and Program is available at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/green-communities-division

Committee Members

NameTitleTerm
Arthur (Chip) Wallace

Chair

7/1/23 to 6/30/24

Elisa Grammer

7/1/23 to 6/30/24

Richard Parker

7/1/23 to 6/30/24

Elizabeth Callahan

7/1/23 to 6/30/24

Camden Holland

7/1/23 to 6/30/24

Stephen Doran

7/1/23 to 6/30/24

Ian K James

7/1/23 to 6/30/24

Vacancy One
Vacancy Two
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