Town Report for
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The NEC engaged in two big projects during FY13. We planned for and participated in the statewide Home Energy Challenge sponsored by Efficiency Vermont, and we continued to develop a renewable energy project to cover the town’s electricity consumption.
With the assistance of the Sustainable Energy Resource Group (SERG), and along with other town energy committees, the NEC helped to organize local contractors to offer discounted energy audits to facilitate weatherization work on homes. A public forum about the program was held in Tracy Hall in February to launch Weatherize Norwich, with a goal of seeing 44 homes weatherized by the end of 2013. As a result, approximately 30 families did audits, received discounted services, and came away with thorough reports listing their most cost-effective weatherization options. As of the end of the fiscal year, 4 families had proceeded to have some of that work done and more are expected in FY14. The NEC created a “yarn bomb” of 44 knitted strips on the light pole at Dan and Whit’s and announced that they would be removed as home weatherization projects are completed. During the spring and summer the NEC consulted with several developers about a municipal photovoltaic project. An RFP was circulated and as the fiscal year came to a close the committee was reviewing 5 proposals. Unlike the proposals considered by the NEC in the past, these projects take advantage of tax credits and net-metering premiums to provide the town with renewably generated electricity at a discount from the market price on a long-term basis, while requiring no investment of town money or bonding. In addition, the NEC organized another round of Solarize Norwich in which two companies with roots in town—Norwich Technologies and Solaflect—offered discounted pricing for residential PV systems. As of the end of FY13 several families were planning to sign on. The NEC meets regularly on the fourth Tuesday of every month, at 7 pm at Tracy Hall. For more information, contact Linda Gray (649-2032, [email protected]) or Alan Berolzheimer (649-2857, [email protected]). |