NoSagVt Invites Neighboring Communities to Become Involved

A community information meeting around the Biomass plant proposal, was recently held by the North Springfield Action Group (NoSag). The presentation was entitled: “A ‘Vermont-Scale” Approach to Renewable Energy: How We Return Power to the People.”
http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/nosagvt-invites-neighboring-communities-become-involved

NoSagVt Invites Neighboring Communities to Become Involved Submitted by VT Journal on Thu, 07/05/2012 - 9:20am By Nancy Silliman SPRINGFIELD, VT -A community information meeting around the Biomass plant proposal, sponsored by the North Springfield Action Group (NoSag) was held in Springfield, Vermont at the Unitarian Universalist Church, on June 26. The presentation was entitled: “A ‘Vermont-Scale” Approach to Renewable Energy: How We Return Power to the People.” The purpose of the meeting was to talk about energy options and the Biomass proposal. “On behalf of the Concerned Citizens of North Springfield and Springfield, the members of the North Springfield Action Group (NoSagVt) would like to invite all citizens of Springfield, North Springfield, Chester, Weathersfield, and the surrounding areas to join us,” Maggie Kelly, Vice-Chair, stated. Town officials were invited including select board members and energy experts such as the main speaker, Lukas Snelling, Executive Director of “Energize Vermont”. “Energize Vermont is a non-profit organization that advocates for renewable energy solutions that are in harmony with the irreplaceable character of Vermont and contribute to the people's well-being. Currently the organization opposes utility-scale developments that haven’t incorporated community input and is facilitating the development of two community-owned solar projects in Vermont. Vermont is facing a “gold-rush” towards renewable energy development, but as projects get proposed they almost immediately generate opposition and controversy. Lukas Snelling, Executive Director of Energize Vermont, examines what’s wrong with the process of developing renewable energy in Vermont today and proposes a new path towards a renewable energy future that supports community input, combats climate change, and ensures appropriate “Vermont-scale” energy development”, Kelly wrote in a statement for the meeting. Bob Kischko, Chair of the NOSAG Board of Directors was the master of ceremonies and introduced Lucas Snelling who is a native born Vermonter and previously worked in New York City in Times Square, before he became an advocate for Energize Vermont. Snelling spoke about the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program run by VEIC, Vermont Energy Investment Corp. PACE is a financing program designed to help qualifying homeowners invest in specified energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements. Julia Lloyd Wright, Energy Coordinator of the Town of Weathersfield stated, “PACE was a way of financing energy improvements to residences, including renewable energy systems, with payments made through a special assessment payment along with the property tax payment. When it comes to getting electricity from a utility company and selecting a company to supply home heating - there are options. I strongly believe it is up to homeowners to take control of how they light and heat homes,” and stated further, “the majority of Vermonters don't have an option for either. But a lot do.” Snelling’s presentation included vivid slides of protesters and one including one that stated, “Development lacking community support will fail,” in reference to the N. I. M. B. M., which means “not in my backyard mentality.” Snelling talked about the Vermont’s Public Service Board, which according to their web site states that it is “a quasi-judicial board that supervises the rates, quality of service, and overall financial management of Vermont's public utilities.” Snelling said that it is “where all energy gets evaluated.” and how the people may think that the “process is scary” to be evaluated. Audience members agreed that it was a “very informational meeting”. Snelling said that it was important for the public to be educated about the issues. Someone in the audience also said that each person needed “to learn that the biomass plant proposed for North Springfield would be burning wood instead of electricity but would emit more CO2 than coal and several times as much as natural gas.” Julia Lloyd Wright said, "People need to think outside the box, instead of relying on a utility for electricity and the local home heating oil supplier” and also that they should “take charge of and control of their own power needs." For more information call Maggie Kelly at NoSAG at 802-428-2547 or look at their website: http://energizevermont.org/.