ENERGY NEWS - August 25, 2010:
Introduction of the "Stretch Code" for Public Discussion/Town Meeting Vote
The Rowe Energy Committee is planning an informational meeting on the Stretch Code in early fall and hopes to bring the Stretch Code for voter approval at a special town meeting in late October or early November this year. A Green Communities criterion, it is a building code with a higher standard of energy conservation and efficiency than the current code. A summary of the proposed code is available above.
ENERGY NEWS - June 29, 2010:
Home Energy Savings Booth at Rowe Old Home Day
The Rowe Energy Committee has arranged for a booth to be open from 12:00noon to 4:00 pm at Rowe's Old Home Day celebration on Saturday, July 10, 2010, at the Rowe Elementary School. At the booth, residents can consult with both a representative from the MassSave program (a National Grid sponsored program of free home energy audits ("assessments") and incentive money) and with Pam Kelly representing the several Home Repair energy incentive programs coordinated through the Franklin County Home Care Corporation. They will help residents find incentives and
other support in saving money by saving energy in their homes.
New Location for the Solar PV Array at the School
Working with our Energy Engineer advisor Bart Bales, the Energy Committee, along with school personnel, have selected a spot on the slope northeast of the school parking lot for the array. This location has better solar energy reception, is more secure, and is less visible. Rowe's RFP (Request for Proposals) for the project was advertised June 30th. Proposals will be accepted through July 22, 2010.
Rowe's Energy Future Survey This Month
Early in July each Rowe voter will be mailed a "Rowe's Energy Future" survey, with prepaid return envelope. In last month's Rowe Goal Post, the Energy Committee posed several questions that residents might want to consider prior to filling out their survey. Here are the "answers" (as our committee understands them to be).
Q. For at least the next year or so, the “Green Communities” designation will be required to gain access to the majority of state and federal energy grant funding for energy projects in Towns. What kinds of projects for municipal buildings and for private residences might qualify for this funding?
A. For town-owned properties, perhaps these projects might include street light and exterior lighting fixture updating and controls, or for buildings, solar hot water or solar PV generation, or low emission wood-fired heating units or small wind installations. For residential properties, these funds could provide support for a program of direct connection between homeowners and the variety of state, regional and federal incentive programs for energy repairs, or might create a pool of money for residents to make very low- interest loans for doing home-energy improvements. Many other kinds of energy
projects could be considered.
Q. To qualify for “Green Communities” status, the Town would need to site in Rowe one "Clean
Energy facility" (either solar, wind, biomass, research and development, or manufacturing). How
big would the facility need to be?
A. The minimum size of the facility, if it is to meet the Green Communities criteria, would be as follows (note: implementing only one of the following options is needed to qualify):
Wind Turbines: 600 kW rated electricity generation. A single medium to large-sized tower perhaps 275'-350' tall from base to tip of blades would qualify.
Solar Display: 250 kW in a single ground-mounted system of photovoltaic panels (this is a large display, filling about 5 acres of space)
(Biomass Facility): minimum of 5 MW combined heat and power generation in a stand-alone building.) (This option is currently not acceptable pending state study of the potential effects on the health and sustainability of regional forest resources.)
Clean Energy Related Research and Development Facility: This facility would fill, as a minimum, about one acre of space, including access and parking.
Clean Energy Manufacturing Facility: This might produce special clean energy items (such as electronic modules, light receptive materials, special measurement and control devices, and the like). Again, it would fills a minimumbout one acre (50,000 sq ft) in entirety.
Q. What sort of control would Rowe voters have over approval of such a facility?
A. The particular facility and its specific site would require the approval of appropriate town boards and finally a Town Meeting vote.
Q. What are the Green Communities required special zoning provisions, and expedited
permit provisions for this facility?
A. Green Communities qualification would require that an "as of right" zoning provision (in other words, if the company proposing the facility met all Rowe's specific site pre-conditions, it could build there without requiring a "special permit" from the Planning Board.), and would also require an "expedited permit" provision (stipulating that decision on approval or rejection of the facility by the Town would be made within 12 months) for the siting of at least
one of the clean energy facilities listed above. These provisions would very likely be created for that one facility in that one prescribed location and size, and would therefore not represent a change in basic Town bylaws. Once the specific facility for which they were created was built, the "as of right" and "special permit" regulations would become void. The Energy Committee is exploring with the Planning Board the preparation of basic language for these kinds of site and project-specific zone and permit provisions in anticipation that the town may decide to move ahead with one of the possible clean energy facilities above.
Q. What control would voters have over these provisions?
A. All aspects of these provisions would be explained to the residents of Rowe, the Planning Board would hold two required hearings for each regulation, and Town Meeting approval would be required on each regulation.
Q. What is the "Stretch (building) Code," and how might it affect new construction and
major renovations in Rowe? (Passing the Stretch Code is a requirement to become a
Green Community).
A. This code, if adopted, would require that all new buildings and all major renovations or additions in Rowe meet energy conservation and efficiency standards that would surpass by about 15% those of our existing building code. Blow-door tests (that measure how much air can be drawn out of the structure with all windows and doors closed) and independent verification of actual efficiency levels achieved would be a part of these new standards. Working with our Building Inspector, this late summer or early fall, the Energy Committee will hold Stretch Code informational meetings and send out information to prepare
residents for a Town Meeting vote on whether to adopt the new code. Many regional communities have already adopted the Stretch Code, including Springfield, Greenfield, and Montague. Again, Town Meeting approval would be required to establish the new code.
Copies of the Green Communities Action Plan for Rowe, approved by the Selectmen in December of 2009, are in the Library and at Town Hall and in pdf version above. The wind
map for Rowe is also attached above. For more information ask an Energy Committee member or come to Energy Committee meetings.
Rowe Energy Committee
Jack Packard, Chair
Lisa Danek-Burke
Bill Loomis
Paul McLatchy III
Dan Miller
BJ Roche
Dana Williams
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