A round table discussion regarding the possibility of Marion becoming a Green Community, as defined by the State of Massachusetts, was held at a meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee at the Marion Music Hall on Monday.
The committee is charged with investigating ways to help Marion create clean, renewable energy for the future and reduce current energy waste in the town. The Green Communities Act, passed in 2008, encourages towns in the state to reduce electric bills, promote the development of renewable energy and stimulate the clean energy industry.
If the town were to qualify under the Green Communities Act it could possibly qualify for a $150,000 grant to assist the town in improving energy efficiency.
At issue were five criteria, which the town would have to meet to qualify under the state designation.
“This clearly involves the Planning Board and the 2015 Committee,” said member Bill Saltonstall, who discussed the first criteria which calls for siting of designated locations for renewable/alternative energy generation, research and development , or manufacturing facilities.
The board focused on solar energy as a starting point.
According to committee members, a two-acre parcel is the minimum area for a solar installation. Committee members agreed that a property with an existing business could qualify. The board discussed whether the Planning Board would accept the “as-of-right siting” as described in the Green Communities Act or if the wording of the criteria would prompt the Planning Board to require a site plan review. The committee agreed that it was worth taking the issue to the Planning Board and discussing it.
Members attending included Chairman David Pierce, Norman Hills, Jennifer Francis and Bill Saltonstall.
In discussion of various town owned parcels, Mr. Hills said that solar panels shading vegetation on top of a bog or even a landfill could be a problem. “You can’t kill the vegetation on a landfill… that’s what keeps it covered,” said Mr. Hills. Ms. Francis asked about shade plants, such as Swedish ivy, being used beneath the shadow of a solar panel.
Various ideas, including the use of roof membranes on top of schools or town buildings could be used to negate any ill effects of positioning solar panels atop existing town structures. The use of conservation restricted land and Sippican Lands Trust properties was also discussed.
Other criteria discussed included the adoption, by the town, of an expedited application and permit process for qualifying energy facilities and establishing a benchmark for energy use and developing a plan to reduce baseline use by 20 percent within five years.
Ms. Francis said that Tabor Academy, the Kittansett Club, and others in town have requested energy audits from NStar to assist in reducing their energy costs. NStar will not audit a municipality – however, a software package could be purchased by the town and energy use per building could be monitored and show which buildings are the least efficient.
The last two criteria included the purchase of only fuel-efficient vehicles for town use and setting requirements to minimize life-cycle energy costs for new construction. Most town vehicles are excluded, including police cars and large trucks. To help with meeting standards for new construction, the code advocates adopting the new Board of Building Regulations and Standards Stretch Code.
“In the next few years, this code will probably be adopted by the Commonwealth anyway,” said Mr. Saltonstall.
Matthew Meyer, a Marion resident, attended with his young son and said that the energy policy in the United States is far behind Great Britain’s. “I’ve seen it firsthand and was surprised at the economic savings in industry as well as the benefit to the environment,” said Mr. Meyer. “I was a bit of a skeptic at first, but now see the substantial cost efficiencies in energy conservation,” said Mr. Meyer.
The next meeting will be on Monday, January 23 at the Marion Music Hall at 7:00 pm.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry