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Cape Cod Times 8/15/2020 – MY VIEW:

Let’s not wait to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions

capecodtimes.comMassachusetts is moving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008 mandates reductions of 25% from 1990 levels by 2020. It appears we have made this goal through greener electricity, higher automobile fuel efficiency and energy conservation. Now Gov. Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts House and Senate bills have set 2030, 2040 and 2050 goals at 50%, 75% and 100% reductions.

But we shouldn’t have to wait until even 2030. We have the chance to act now to avoid greater costs later….

Provincetown Independent – 8/6/2020

New Nauset Regional High School Building

e for the Committee

On April 5, the Selectboard will discuss expanding the charge of the Energy Committee to include Climate Change Action. See details of the changes here.

Solar Array on the Capped Landfill

The committee began working on a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a photovoltaic array on the capped landfill in the summer of 2017.  The town issued the RFP in the Fall and a contractor was selected in late 2017.

Preliminary designs were presented to the town at a forum in the Spring of 2018.

Wellfleet selected Ameresco for an energy services contract to design, obtain permits, construct, operate, maintain and decommission a 1.2 Megawatt array of 2400 panels on top of the landfill.  The panels will be less than 6 feet off the ground (at the highest point under the rack of panels) and will meet the 100-foot setback requirements.

Construction is complete and we are awaiting Eversource interconnection and Permission to Operate (PTO).

Solarize Mass

Wellfleet has completed a second Solarize grant as part of the Outer Cape Energize Program. Outer Cape Energize is a joint program of the Towns and Energy Committees of Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, and Eastham.  

Check the Outer Cape Energize website for more details.

Electricity switching.

Beware of aggressive marketing and “slamming,” in which customers have electricity providers switched without their permission or fooled by short term rates that expire with costs to switch back to a reasonable rate.

Wellfleet- Becomes a Green Community

The Wellfleet Energy Committee completed two major projects, becoming a Green Community and the Solarize Wellfleet Program and is working on a Solar Array at the capped landfill.

Wellfleet obtains Green Community Status

Wellfleet obtains Green Community Status

1)  Wellfleet has been designated as a Green Community. There were five criteria.  We passed Criteria 1 and 2, the Zoning article and Expedited Permitting article in 2013 at the annual town meeting.  An article to adopt the “Stretch Code” (Criteria 5) passed the 2014 Annual Town Meeting.  The Board of Selectmen approved a plan for the use of high mileage vehicles where feasible earlier in 2014 (Criteria 4) .  The last step involved an energy reduction plan that was developed with the assistance of the Cape Light Compact by Larry Franke with help from Marcus Springer.  Here is a draft of the plan that was reviewed with the Selectmen on 9/16/2014. The final version of the  Wellfleet- Energy Reduction Plan was submitted for the BOS adoption 9/30/14.  

2)  We are the installation of a photovoltaic array on the Wellfleet capped landfill next to the Transfer Station.

3)  We sponsored Solarize Wellfleet.  This was an initiative to educate homeowners and businesses in Wellfleet about installing solar arrays and organizing a group buy to lower costs.  The program ended on June 30, having exceeded its goal of reaching more than 200 kW of installed capacity. The program is now over and 133 households have agreed to install 655 kW of capacity, over three times our goal for the program.  Wellfleet homeowners contracted to add solar installations to about 3% of the houses in Wellfleet as part of this program, making us one of the most “solarized” towns in the state.   

4) In conjunction with the towns of Eastham, Truro, and Provincetown we completed a second round of Solarize Mass, including elements of energy conservation and greenhouse gas reduction.

5) The Board of Selectmen reviewed and approved a revised Aggregation Plan from the Cape Light Compact.  This is the first revision in thirteen years.  There was a public hearing in Mashpee on May 14 on the aggregation plan, which was submitted to the DPU and underwent a technical review which added clarifying material.  The new Aggregation Plan is now in effect.

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