Energy Task Force Established

At the October Municipal Council meeting, we established an Energy Task Force. It is charged with reporting back to the Mayor and the Council with specific recommendations regarding municipal energy use. This is a time limited Task Force, with a commission ending at the end of December, 2009.

Here's the heart of the measure:

3. The Task Force shall report to the Municipal Council and the Mayor regarding the following:

a) Strategies to reduce energy costs of city-owned facilities and vehicles through energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, including strategies to conserve electricity, vehicle fuel, natural gas and oil and identify cost-saving measures, such as performance management contracts or use of bio-diesel fuels;

b) Develop city-wide programs and measures to promote and facilitate smart energy strategies for Amesbury citizens, including energy saving programs and renewable energy generation projects on both public and private real property; and

c) To accomplish the above, identify state and federal grants and resources such as the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, UMass Amherst’s Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Executive Office of Environmental and Energy Affairs, the Department of Energy Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection to accomplish these goals and assist the city in applying for and implementing such grants and resources.

The Mayor is accepting applications now for this Task Force. You can find an application HERE. Please consider joining this and other Boards and Committees.