North Quabbin Energy

A packed house at the Wendell Free Library on Thursday night listened to Ray Bradley,  University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences and Director of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, talking about the state of current scientific research into the world’s warming climate, as well as the chilling story of how a few climate change deniers in Congress tried to put science on trial by indicting Bradley and two colleagues for “fraudulent” use of federal research funding.  The latter part of the story is related in Bradley’s book, Global Warming and Political Intimidation:  How Politicians Cracked Down on Scientists as the Earth Heated Up (University of Massachusetts Press, 2011).

I came away from the talk not sure whether to be depressed or reassured.  On the one hand, there was plenty in Bradley’s presentation to feel pessimistic about.  He noted that even in the very best imaginable scenario, if all fossil fuel burning were to stop tomorrow, enough greenhouse gases have already been released into the atmosphere over the past 200 years (and particularly since the Second World War) that the world’s climate will continue to warm right through the 21st century and beyond.  In other words, it’s too late to reverse what’s already been done–the best we can possibly do is to deal with the consequences and try to stop making it even worse. Continue reading A climate scientist spells it out for us

Petersham and Wendell Earn Clean Energy Leadership Status in the Sixth Round of Green Community Designations

Town Energy Committees in both Petersham and Wendell worked to meet five clean energy criteria and write up a 20% energy reduction plan for their town buildings.  In Petersham Linda Paquet provided the leadership for writing the Green Community proposal.   In Wendell, Nan Riebschlaeger and the town energy committee provided leadership for writing the proposal.  Both these communities must now work to implement projects to reduce their energy use in town buildings.  Petersham is now eligible for $138,425 to implement projects.  Wendell is eligible for $138,125.  Both towns will be working with the MA Department of Energy Resources in the coming months in order to receive money for their town.

Grants for the communities designated today will be funded by Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP) made by electricity suppliers who don’t meet their statutory Renewable Portfolio Standard obligation to purchase a sufficient percentage of renewable energy. Green Communities grants also receive funding from proceeds of carbon allowance auctions under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).  There are 110 communities in Massachusetts with Green Community Designation now.

Other towns in the North Quabbin area continue to work on reducing their energy use in town buildings.  Athol, Barre, and New Salem also have Green Community Designation with grants to help them reduce energy consumption in town buildings.   Although Orange does not have Green Community Designation, the Orange Selectboard recently signed an agreement with Borrego Solar for the construction of a PV system on the capped landfill.

Work continues on reducing energy use in town buildings through the work of town energy committees in Athol, Barre,  New Salem,  Orange,  Petersham, Royalston, Warwick and Wendell.  Check out the pull down menu above for town committees to see some updates.

Here’s a short list of some good articles about the connections between the changing climate and this week’s “superstorm,” particularly as it relates to political responses to the storm.

• Tom Whipple’s piece for the Post Carbon Institute blog notes that the weather reporters weren’t talking about the possible reasons for the unusual presence, size, and route of Hurricane Sandy so late in the hurricane season.  But Whipple points out that the repetition and sheer costs of these “extreme weather events”–expected to be in the tens of billions of dollars for Sandy–may be the best way to get through to politicians and others who have so far resisted the big implications of the changing climate and humans’ role in it. Continue reading Politicians connecting the dots: The “superstorm” and climate change

North Quabbin Energy’s 2012 “Fresh & Local Food Guide” is now available.  The annual listing highlights local farms and food producers in the North Quabbin towns (Athol, New Salem, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Warwick, and Wendell) and neighboring Barre and Shutesbury.  Foods grown locally include fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, flowers, eggs, dairy products, mushrooms, and herbs.  The brochure also lists area specialties plus non-food and “value-added” products like honey, maple syrup, local cheeses, bakery goods, hay, compost, wool and fleece, and imported fair-trade coffee.  Look for information about area farmers markets, festivals, the local food co-op, “Community Supported Agriculture” (CSA) farms, and more.

Eating locally is an energy-related issue because the food industry in the U.S. is based on energy-intensive modes of farming, processing, shipping, and storing food.  Produce and other foods are typically shipped over hundreds of miles from the source to the consumer, adding to the “carbon footprint” of products that are usually grown with petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides.  Buying closer to local sources not only reduces the energy required to grow and ship food, but helps support area farmers and food producers who are working to strengthen more sustainable regional food systems.

The 2012 “Fresh & Local” brochure is available in locations throughout the area, including libraries and general stores, town offices, and many of the farms and businesses listed in the guide.  You can also download it here as a PDF file.