HomeMy WebLinkAbout05042012 Energy Study Committee Agenda
MEMORANDUM
TO: Town of Nantucket Board of Selectmen
FROM: Town of Nantucket Energy Study Committee
RE: Nantucket Energy Plan f/k/a Climate Action Plan
DATE: May 4, 2012
In March of 2009, the Board of Selectmen committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions island‐
wide to 10% below 2000 levels by 2020. In November 2010, Sustainable Nantucket presented a
Climate Action Plan to the Board of Selectmen, outlining a strategy to achieve this goal. The Board
handed this version of the Plan to the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Committee
(NP&EDC). NP&EDC hired energy consultant Harris Miller Miller and Hansen, Inc to incorporate
Nantucket‐specific details and the Plan was renamed the Nantucket Energy Plan. In June 2011, the
NP&EDC voted to send this revised version of the Plan, once it was reviewed by Town Counsel, to
the Town’s Energy Outreach Coordinator to be taken through to completion. In July of 2011, Town
Administration asked the Energy Study Committee for their input on this version of the Plan. The
Energy Committee enlisted the help of two teams of student researchers from Worcester
Polytechnic Institute (WPI.) The WPI students presented their findings to the Board of Selectmen in
December of 2011.
After reviewing the collective input from the groups mentioned above, the Energy Study Committee
recommends focusing on the following five targets to yield the most effective results:
Target 1: Municipal
• Form the Nantucket Municipal Energy Aggregate as per Article 72 of ATM 2006 and
Article 23 of ATM 2007
• Qualify as a Green Community
Target 2: Transportation
• Increase NRTA ridership and expand bicycle infrastructure
• Promote compact and electric vehicles and install charging stations
Target 3: Energy Efficient Buildings
• Utilize existing weatherization and home energy assessment programs; train local
contractors in these services
• Promote efficient lighting and programmable thermostats
Target 4: Clean and Renewable Energy Sources
• Install Solar and Wind Generation
• Facilitate more biodiesel fuels
Target 5: Waste Reduction
• Straight vegetable oil as local fuel source
Progress has already been made in several of these areas. Qualifying as a Green Community will
open the door to millions of dollars of State funding to help Nantucket finance subsequent targets.
Improvements in ground transportation and building efficiency will garner the most significant
emissions reductions. All of these targets are achievable with the help of the Town’s Energy Study
Committee and by expanding the Energy Office to oversee and implement this plan.