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Berkshire Regional Energy Plan

Develop an energy plan to address the challenges of energy production and consumption in Berkshire County, ensuring energy security, environmental health, and climate change mitigation.

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Berkshire Regional Energy Plan

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  1. Berkshire Regional Energy Plan Cedar Blazek Lucie Coleman Zoe Grueskin Chie Togami

  2. Overview We Would Like to Thank Amy Kacala Nancy Nylen Wendy Penner Annie Stilts Sarah Gardner – Williams College

  3. Overview Why is This Important? • Global CO2 emissions reached a record high in 2011 • Recent studies suggest that US trend of decreasing emission (down 9% from 2005) is unlikely to continue unless: • We find alt. methods for producing and consuming energy • We need a new regional energy plan to address growing problems with our energy production/consumption • To ensure Berkshire County can have energy security, ensure environmental and public health, and help mitigate climate change

  4. Overview Where do we fit in? TASK 1: Outreach Strategy and Key Issues Roundtables • solicit input from the full range of residents, businesses, and community leaders on the topic of renewable energy generation TASK 2: Develop a Regional Energy Inventory • County-wide energy efficiency and renewable energy project inventory • Regional energy baseline by sector, detailing as possible how energy is used community to community, including levels of local participation in the Green Communities program, where local energy committees are active and what their focus has been, and resources and incentives available to support local efforts.” From: Proposal for Providing Regional Energy & Efficiency Planning Services – CET and Peregrine

  5. Overview New England Electricity Mix New England Greenstart and New England Wind Disclosure Label 2009

  6. Overview How Much Electricity Do We Use? Residential Electricity Consumption County Commercial, Industrial, and Municipal Electricity Consumption

  7. Overview How Much Electricity Do We Use? Residential • 55,338 households * 8,036.3 kWH (AVG kWH for single-family attached house) = • 444,712.77 MWH Commercial/Municipal • (4557 Employer Establishments + 7761 Non-Employer Establishments) * 8471.6 (AVG kWH for New England Commercial/Municipal)= • 879,440.74 MWH Sources: US Census Economic Data, 2009-2011 American Community Survey, US EIA

  8. Policies, Grants, & Incentives Photo: Eric Haynes, Governor’s Office

  9. Policies 1997/2005: Kyoto Protocol National 2009: Obama’s Copenhagen Commitment International Regional 2009: Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

  10. Policies Projected U.S. Emissions under Different Federal Regulatory Scenarios and State Scenarios Source: Nicholas M. Bianco and Franz T. Litz, “Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the United States Using Existing Federal Authority and State Action,” (Washington, DC: World Resources Institute, 2010).

  11. Policies Massachusetts 2008: Global Warming Solutions Act 2008: Green Communities Act Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020  Portfolio of Policies Photo: Eric Haynes, Governor’s Office Source: Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

  12. Policies Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 Projected Impact “Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020,” Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 2010, ES-7.

  13. Policies Massachusetts In progress: Wetlands Protection Act Regulatory Reform – “limited projects” status for access roads to renewable energy projects Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs http://www.mass.gov/eea/air-water-climate-change/climate-change/massachusetts-global-warming-solutions-act/

  14. Policies Local Stretch Code: energy efficiency standards for new construction Renewable Energy Bylaws: Enable as-of-right siting for wind and solar R&D, manufacturing, or energy generation

  15. Grants & Incentives Municipalities • Energy Efficiency • Green Communities • MassCEC grants • U.S. Department of Energy • EECBG (ARRA - DOE) • Renewable Energy • Green Communities • MassCEC grants • EPA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs http://www.mass.gov/eea/air-water-climate-change/climate-change/massachusetts-global-warming-solutions-act/

  16. Grants & Incentives Residential & Commercial • Renewable Energy • Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) - Federal • Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) - Federal • Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) – Mass • Net metering • Energy Efficiency • Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction • Audits, assessments from Massachusetts utilities • Tax credits for home energy improvements MassCEC http://www.masscec.com/index.cfm/page/About-Clean-Energy/pid/11138

  17. Berkshire Green Communities Checking in with Green Communities Williamstown, Pittsfield, Lenox, Becket, Richmond, Great Barrington Mass.gov 7-24-12 http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/pressreleases/2012/2012724-governor-announces-green-communities.html

  18. Berkshire Green Communities Challenges • Shortage of staff • Design of Green Communities Act: focused on energy reduction Hopes for Energy Plan • Document goals and objectives • Provide more support • Give weight to grant proposals Recommendations • Committee composed of citizens and city employees • “Circuit-rider” – role for BRPC? • Improve legislation: account for source of energy generation, achievements before designation, residential and commercial

  19. Current Renewable Energy Project Inventory in Berkshire County

  20. Current Projects Current Commercial Scale Solar Project • Pittsfield – Silver Lake Solar Facility (10/10) • 8 acres – 1.8 MW http://www.pittsfield-ma.org/newsdetail_T1_R24.htm

  21. Current Projects Hoosac Wind • Facts: • Florida, MA (by 12/12) • 19 turbines • 28.5MW • Developer – Iberdroia Renewable • Benefits: • $257,000 annual payments to town • 140 temp. jobs & 3-5 permanent • Off-set ~100million lbs of CO2/year http://www.robinson-donovan.com/news/hoosac-wind-farm-permit-completed_194/

  22. Current Projects Berkshire Wind Berkshire Wind • Facts: • Brodie Mountain (5/11) • Owner: Berkshire Wind Power Co-op • 10 turbines • 15MW • $149,000 predevelopment financing loan from MassCEC • $64,705,000 in tax exempt revenue bonds from BWPCC Benefits: -50 full-time jobs during construction Off-set ~612 metric tons CO2/year or 1.17 million barrels of oil http://www.industcards.com/wind-usa-e.htm

  23. Survey Methodology Survey Goal: To gather input and assess attitudes toward electricity use and production, and to determine if renewable energy projects would be a good fit for Berkshire County. Wind Turbine at Jiminy Peak Ski Resort http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/13376/slide_13376_182357_large.jpg?1354570362313 http://www.powdermag.com/files/2012/11/jiminy-peak-wind-turbine.jpg Solar Array in Pittsfield, MA

  24. Survey Methodology Geographical Diversity North District Middle District South District http://www.berkshirerealtors.org/images/berkshiremap2.gif

  25. Survey Methodology Towns Adams (N) N. Adams (N) Williamstown (N) Lanesborough(M) Pittsfield (M) Great Barrington (S) Lenox (S) Stockbridge (S) Talking Stockbridge, MAen Communities TalkinGreat Barrington, MAen Communities http://luxuryexperience.com/images/stories/Destinations/Berkshires/great%20barrington,%20massachusetts.jpg

  26. Survey Methodology Administering the Survey • Surveying was conducted on five different dates – 11/11, 11/17, 11/18, 11/19. and 11/23 • The majority of surveys were administered verbally with the surveyors marking responses and transcribing quotes. • Surveyors worked in pairs • Surveying was done primarily in heavily trafficked areas – farmers markets, downtown street corners, and supermarkets. • Important note: No Williams students were surveyed

  27. Survey Methodology Survey Challenges • Original survey – Too long! - multiple drafts • Difficulty finding residents and not tourists • Difficulty finding people willing to take the survey • Incomplete responses • Limited sample size (55 completed surveys)

  28. Survey Results N =55

  29. Survey Results 45.5% 54.5% N=55 12.7% 11% 27.3% 20% 12.7% N=55

  30. Survey Results N=55

  31. Survey Results

  32. Survey Results N=55

  33. Survey Results

  34. Survey Results 50.9% N=53

  35. Survey Results N=55

  36. Survey Results Averaged Responses N=55

  37. Survey Results N=19

  38. Survey Results

  39. Survey Results

  40. Survey Results

  41. Survey Results

  42. Survey Results Main Survey Findings • Residents we surveyed were very supportive of renewable energy. (50 of 53 ~ 50%-100%) • Respondents favored solar energy followed by a three-way tie between hydropower, small-scale wind, and wind farms. • Of the respondents who had seen renewable energy projects, the majority indicated that they liked them. (25/35)

  43. Survey Results Verbal Survey Results Lack of Energy Knowledge North Adams, Female, age 18-25, 11/9/12 “ I do not know a whole lot about the projects to make an informed decision.” (regarding renewable projects) Adams, Female, age 26-35, 11/9/12 “ I have nothing negative to say about any of these choices because I am not familiar with how each and every one of these choices are efficient or not efficient.”

  44. Survey Results Verbal Survey Results Q: What do you think of the projects you are familiar with? Adams, Male 26-35 (32), 11/11/12“I think wind energy is good. I’ve seen the wind farms out in California, that’s the place for them.  They are in big wastelands out there.  The Berkshires don’t have that type of land.  Here they are eyesores and ruin our ridges.”

  45. Survey Results Verbal Survey Results Q: What do you think of the projects you are familiar with? Lenox, Female, 26-35, 11/23/12 “We can’t expect tourists to come visit our mountains if we put these big machines on top of them.” Stockbridge, Female, age 56-65, 11/11/12 “I thought windmills would be a good idea, but not here, because of the bird migrations. We’re right in their central path”

  46. Survey Results Positive Feedback Williamstown, Female, age 56-65, 11/17/12 “ I see the wind power and I think oh, it’s good it’s wind, not coal, not nuclear, not oil; it’s wind” Lenox, Female, age 36-45, 11/11/12 “We should aim to use build lots of small scale projects (eg. wind mills on homes like on sailboats).” N. Adams, Female, age 25-35, 11/9/12 “I know some residents feel the turbines/windmills are an eyesore and “ruining the landscape” but my family and I believe that these sort of energy initiatives are working towards protecting and preserving said landscapes!”

  47. State Progress

  48. Priorities Berkshire County Emissions by Source:

  49. Looking Forward We have the policies, the financial support, and the knowledge to move forward. We believe that what the regional energy plan could do best is to clarify and refine our goals for energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, and to help build the institutional and social connections to achieve them

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