January meeting Minutes

3rd meeting
January 23, 2008
Focus: Cool Cities, Energy Audit and Alternative Energy Study


Amanda Ravenhill has been appointed an Island Institute Fellow for the Cranberry Isles and will work through August with a job emphasis on island sustainability.

She began the meeting by describing the “Cool Cities Program”, cities that have made a commitment to stopping global warming by signing the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. There will be a warrant article at our 2008 town meeting asking that TCI become part of this group. Mentioning that our area has been tagged “the tailpipe of the country” as industrial emissions gather over Maine, Amanda stressed the need for individual, community, and government efforts.

Amanda also addressed the following:
- Shopping smart: buying local, recycling, considering
packaging
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – think before throwing – be mindful!
- Buying “green power”, Interfaith Power and Light

Bruce Fernald spoke about energy savings with front-loading washers.

Courtney Chaplin suggested looking into building codes for future construction in TCI.

Cynthia Lief:
- Raised the concern of marine scientists regarding the disposal of medications into septic systems which leach into the ground water
- Suggested finding a location to dispose of CFLs on island
- Will continue looking into residential energy audits (now available free for municipal buildings and businesses
- Proposed compiling a survey of what TCI residents are already doing for sustainability (clotheslines, composting, etc.)

FEBRURARY 11: Spearheaded by Gary Friedman, an event will be held in Bar Harbor to enlist all MDI towns in joining the Cool Cities program. Representatives from TCI will attend.

Cindy Thomas: Look into cistern collection for water.

Bruce Fernald questioned the % of electricity usage going to water pumps.

Skip Stevens asked about the impact of hydroelectric usage.
Amanda stated:
--lowhead uses a smaller turbine with no fossil fuel involved
--Maine’s Lisbon Falls project meets the highest standards and the more local, the lower the cost and less impact on wildlife

Cindy Thomas:
--Turn lights out when leaving a room
--Insulate sockets on outside walls
--Bring a mug to meetings rather than using paper

Barbara Fernald spoke about using a Britta filter rather than letting water run before drinking as protection from older pipes which may contain lead.

Bill Mcguinness suggested that vehicles not idle while waiting for barges.

Soos: Buy in bulk and bring own containers

Anna Fernald described her commitment as avoiding plastic with the use of ceramic containers and using cloth versus paper napkins.

Barb Fernald suggested reusing plastic produce bags – don’t knot

Moving into a discussion of alternate energy, Bil Mcguinness said that 4 out of 15 Maine islands are actively pursuing large wind turbines and others, like the TCI are seriously researching projects.

Jeff Cramer’s presentation on alternate energy:
--2.4kw needed to get 1kw to the user. Islesford used approximately 500,000 - 700,000 kw per year.
--There is a need to understand the science and the economics of wind versus solar versus tidal power and the value to TCI. (See Samso island off coast of the Netherlands.)
-- We need to do an alternate energy feasibility study and discover where we are today.

[Dan Lief said a warrant will appear at the Town Meeting to allow up to $10,000 for the selectman to allocate for such a study.]

--Municipal governments should set the playing field and communities should choose the path.
--In Maine, there is the possibility of cooperative turbines to lowering the price.

Alison Mayo, working for the Island Institute on Great Cranberry will facilitate a meeting for interested residents to learn about the Sustainability Initiative, to contribute, and be involved.

Jeff Cramer stressed the importance of being creative due to our location and population. Working together produces results and any research would be available to benefit all.

Anne Fernald invited the group to hold the February meeting, date to be announced at her home.