Beginning 2018….

Town Energy Committees Continue Work on Energy Reduction Projects

In 2008-2009 North Quabbin Energy began work to help citizens organize energy committees in towns of the region.  As 2017 came to a close, all the towns North Quabbin Energy worked with over the course of almost ten years have received Green Communities Designation from the MA Department of Energy Resources.  The latest towns to receive this designation include Orange and Royalston.

Orange —  The town will receive a designation grant of $159,830 to work on energy efficiency in town buildings to save on both heating and electricity costs.

Royalston — The town will receive a designation grant of $129,365 to work on energy reduction projects in town buildings.

Other towns in the region who already have Green Communities designation include: Athol (2010), New Salem (2010), Petersham (2012), Wendell (2012), Warwick (2014), Erving (2016-17).

Work of Town Energy Committees and North Quabbin Energy continues in 2018 with several events….

Friday, February 2, 2018 — Wendell.  The Wendell Town Energy Committee will sponsor their 2nd Annual Ground Hog Day Energy Event from 6-8:30 at the Wendell Town Hall.  Pot-luck supper with a chance to hear reports and updates on the Wendell Community Solar Coop, Green Communities and other work.

The Reverence, Resistance and Resilience Film Series will continue at the Athol Library with North Quabbin Energy as a co-sponsor.

Thurs., March 15 at 6 p.m. — “The Economics of Happiness” & “The Great Turning.”

Thurs., April 12 at 6 p.m. — “Soil Carbon Cowboys”

Resilience and Resistance — Garlic & Arts Workshops Online. Fall Films Continue

Renewable Energy and Local Living Workshops from Garlic & Arts Festival are now online  — See 2017 Garlic & Arts Festival

See photos of 2017 Festival and other past festivals at https://garlicandarts.org/photo-gallery-for-past-festivals/ 

Resistance at Standing Rock — Final Fall Film at Athol Public Library on December 5th at 6 p.m.

AWAKE, A Dream from Standing Rock
AWAKE follows the dramatic rise of the historic #NODAPL native-led peaceful resistance at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North Dakota, which captured the world’s attention. Thousands of activists converged from around the country to stand in solidarity with the Water Protectors (activists) protesting the construction of the $3.7 billion Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). The Water Protectors at Standing Rock have awakened the nation and forever changed the way we fight for clean water, the environment and the future of our planet.

The Reverence, Resistance, Resilience Film Series is a collaboration with the Athol Public Library and North Quabbin Energy.  Please call Athol Library at 978-249-9515 to reserve a spot.

 


Focusing on Education and Projects Calling for Action by Citizens

Fall Film Series Continues at Athol Public Library

November 1 from 7-9 p.m. — The second film in this series continues with Requiem for the American DreamThis film features Noam Chomsky who spent time interviewing many people who bring insight to growing inequality in the United States.  This film gives viewers a background on policies that allow having the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few.   Tim Downs, a professor of environmental science and policy at Clark University, will lead a discussion following the film.   The Reverence, Resistance, Resilience Film Series is a collaboration with the Athol Public Library and North Quabbin Energy.  Please call Athol Library at 978-249-9515 to reserve a spot.

Work by Town Energy Committees Call for Action

Orange Town Energy Committee is calling on residents to attend the Fall Special Town Meeting on Thursday, October 26th at 7 p.m. at Orange Town Hall and to vote YES on the Stretch Energy Code so the town can move forward with a Green Communities Designation Grant Application this year.

Royalston Energy Committee has their Fall Special Town Meeting on Friday, October 27th and is also asking people to vote YES on the Stretch Energy Code. Continue reading Focusing on Education and Projects Calling for Action by Citizens

Fall Film Series Begins

No. Quabbin Energy & Athol Library Team up to Present Fall Film Series

October 11th from 7-9 p.m. — This series begins with a showing of Before the Flood with Leonardo DiCaprio  The Reverence, Resistance, Resilience Film Series is a collaboration with the Athol Public Library and North Quabbin Energy.  Please call Athol Library at 978-249-9515 to reserve a spot.  

Connecting the Dots — Building Local Food Systems and Sustainable Energy

Two Local Events Explore Possibilities of Local Food and Renewable Energy

Saturday, June 24th from 1-4 p.m. — “A Celebration of Local Farms and Farmers” at Quabbin Harvest – 12 No. Main St., Orange, MA

Watch for New “Food from the North Quabbin” brochure this summer.

 

 

 

Tuesday, June 27th at 6:30 —   “Residential Solar Info Session at New Salem Town Hall

 

See Solar PV Facts June 2017

Thousands Marched for the Climate, Jobs and Justice — Now What?

What local, regional, and state projects can people work on now?

The climate crisis calls on us to continue our work in each community.  There are many activities that individuals can do on their own or with groups in the area.  Some of these include:

  • Speak up about climate change by writing a letter to the editor of local newspaper to talk about the need for energy conservation, efficiency and renewables.  Talk with your local legislators about these same issues. For more information on Mass Power Forward Coalition and Clean Energy Legislative Priorities for 2017-18 go to http://mapowerforward.com/legislative-agenda-2017-2018
  • Get involved with the work of town energy committees in the North Quabbin region.  To learn about the accomplishments of town energy committees see NQ Town Accomplishments GC… .
  • Contact Governor Baker to ask him to speak out against new gas pipelines and support more renewable energy projects in the state.
  • Attend a gathering of the MA Clean Energy Tour! — These are similar to Commonwealth Conversations – The Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change chaired by Sen. Pacheco is hosting hearings throughout the Commonwealth to get input from you on pressing issues in clean energy and climate.  The hearing schedule for June includes: June 12th in Springfield at 6 p.m. at Western New England University’s School of Law.  For complete information on all the hearings in June  go to https://malegislature.gov/cleanenergyfuture.
  • For more information about current and future No. Quabbin Energy projects seeNQE Work Projects + Events May2017

Thousands Across the Country Marched in April to Speak Out about the Climate Crisis

 

People’s Climate March on April 29th — March for Climate, Justice and Jobs

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April 29 – People’s Climate Marches in Washington, D.C. with Sister Marches in Keene, NH, Greenfield, Springfield and Boston.  

MARCH FOR CLIMATE, JUSTICE AND JOBS —  
 
Washington, D. C. — There may still be room on some buses going from Western MA.  Buses going to DC leave from Amherst, Northampton and Holyoke.  See — http://www.climateactionnowma.org/bus-information-for-peoples-climate-march/

Sister Marches in region include:

Keene, NH – Climate March.  Carpooling from Warwick — carpooling from Warwick to Keene  (meet at 8:30 at Metcalf Chapel on Athol Road in Warwick, MA to carpool).  The day begins at 9:30am with a meet up of all marchers with signs, costumes, puppets and noise makers in the parking lot behind Margarita’s restaurant. At 10:00 am the March commences up both sides of Main St and up to Central Square. Rally from 11:00am-1:00pm.

Greenfield – Climate Rally – 10:30-12noon at Energy Park.  Contact pinthuddle2017@gmail.com for more information.

Springfield, MA  — Climate March at 3 p.m. – March will begin at the Federal Courthouse on State Street in Springfield and proceed to Springfield City Hall where it will culminate in a rally featuring local speakers, artists, and musicians. For more information see

http://www.arisespringfield.org/ClimateMarch

Boston, MA – 12-3:30 on the Boston Common.  Rally and Teach-in.  See http://masspeaceaction.org/boston-peoples-climate-mobilization/ for details.

Climate Disruption Calls for Reduction in Energy Use in U.S.A. — Can We Do It?

North Quabbin Energy Plans Follow-up Projects to March Event on “Local Action for the Climate”

Join Us on April 19th to Continue Work on Local and Regional Projects —  NQE Gathering and Potluck starting at 6 p.m. at Millers River Environmental Center (100 Main St., Athol, MA).  There will be a short film – The Economics of Happiness (20 minute version) with discussion.  Following this there will be discussion and planning which will include updates on town energy activities, the People’s Climate March (D.C., Boston, and Keene), banning plastic bags campaign, legislative up-dates on 100% Renewable Energy, funding questions, and beginning plans for Garlic and Arts Festival.

Local Action for the Climate — Many North Quabbin residents came out to hear Nathanael Fortune, a physics professor from Smith College and a member of the Whately Energy Committee, talk about the “Basics and Science of Climate Change”   on a Sunday afternoon in late March, 2017.

People listened quietly as Professor Nathanael Fortune spoke and emphasized the need to cut our energy use in the United States.  Fortune compared the Earth to a ship and pointed out that we are knocking more and more holes in the ship which means the ship is sinking if we do not plug the holes.  Fortune pointed out that consumers control the demand for energy, and in the United States we use five times as much energy as people in other countries.  In simple terms this means the United States needs to cut its energy use by 50%.  We all have a responsibility to work on this now.

Local projects that help connect the dots regarding issues related to energy use were presented briefly.  Highlights of  regional efforts include switching to  renewables and conserving energy, banning plastic bags, getting involved in strengthening the local food economy, conserving land and farms, getting involved with town energy activities and North Quabbin Energy projects.  Along with talking to neighbors and legislators on all levels, these are projects we can all work on now.

 

North Quabbin Energy Event March 26, 2017– Local Action for the Climate

Local Action for the Climate      Sunday, March 26 – 4-6 p.m.  at Millers River Environmental Center — 100 Main St., Athol, MA

Part I – Dr. Nathanael Fortune – Smith College Science Professor and Member of the Whately Energy Committee  Speaking on – “The Science and Basics of Climate Change”   Followed by Q&A

Part II – Highlights from No. Quabbin Projects on “What Can We Do Now in Our Region?  Portal to the Future — Hear about Renewables, Plastic Bag Ban Campaign, Regional Food Systems, Land/Farm Projects, No. Quabbin Energy Work, and Town Energy Activities.     Followed by Q&A with Discussion and time to talk with people working on projects.

Light Refreshments Served.  Center is handicapped accessible with parking in rear. All are Welcome.

Sponsored by No. Quabbin Energy.    Co-sponsors – Athol Bird and Nature Club, Earthlands, No. Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival,  Orange Town Energy Committee (ad hoc),  Quabbin Harvest, Seeds of Solidarity. and other groups. (Poster Mar 26 (1) C to share and post.)  Questions: Contact plarson24@hotmail.com (978-575-1226)

 

 

Working Toward Clean Energy and Solar PV in 2017

Looking Toward 2017 — People Begin More Work on Moving Toward Clean Energy at the Individual, Local and State level

Rooftop Solar PV —  It is still a good deal to buy a system for your rooftop.  See short solar-facts-latest information from Orange Town Energy Committee (ad hoc).

100re-for-all-local-campaigns-presentation-12-2-16

Mass Power Forward begins statewide Local Clean Energy Campaign for 2017  to work toward cleaner power across MA.  You can view the webinar presentation viewed by over 100 people from across the state at https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PGkOyUx6isP1coZBwhx-nWB6BFJYUrJtepXJMaZRBJ8/edit#slide=id.p4

Also see interview with Senator Stan Rosenberg — Senate President Stan Rosenberg says energy and climate change to remain on Beacon Hill front burner  by Mary Serreze.  See at http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/12/sen_president_rosenberg_utilit.html