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Present: Brian LaPerle, David Belanger, Larry Rappaport, April Hyde, Bob Soucy, Dick Harris, Julie Moran, and guest Rolanda Duchesne of the United Way
Weatherization for the local people is the top concern for this committee right now. Consensus is that it is extremely urgent to get the word out about how to weatherize, and where to go for funding. The urgency is magnified because committee members feel inadequate to do energy audits, or to advise people on proper installation of weatherization. Several ideas were tossed around, and getting people to attend the upcoming GreenPath (Energy) Expo is paramount to this effort. Those least likely to attend this Expo might be the elderly on fixed incomes, but they would benefit from Energy audits, and help to pay for materials, and installation.
D Belanger said that the USDA offers many loans for low income families (annual income under $35,000 per year) for materials for weatherization.
L Rappaport will ask Steve McKenzie of UNH Co-op Ext to attend our meeting next month. Also says that Sen Sunnunu is trying to get more money into Low Income Heat program.
Outreach aspect is crucial - several organizations already do this: Service Link, RSVP volunteers, Mohawk Grange, Community Action Council. Members volunteered to contact these and others.
Colebrook Energy Committee Minutes Meeting 11 August 12, 2008
Energy Expo
United Way Rolanda Duchesne of Berlin, represents United Way, and contacted the Committee concerning the need to have an Energy Expo in this area. She came tonight to join the effort, and has already made some contacts for the Expo (as she has an Energy Expo scheduled in Berlin for Sept 26th). She has contacted Peter Bilodeau of Tri-county CAP, who is already helping (low- income qualifying) people to weatherize their homes. She suggested inviting local merchants, financial institutions, SERVE, Healthy Kids Program, and “Molar Express” to attend. She offered copying and bulk mailing services at minimal prices for any flyers or posters that we will need for this effort. She also suggested having each vendor bring a door prize
(CFLs, CO detectors) to attract people. (There is currently no cost for vendors, although they area requested to do a one hour breakout session on a topic of interest.) J Moran to get CDDA in contact with R Duchesne.
Suggested places for flyers: Newspapers, Medical offices, Senior Centers, REC Center, Grange, Local businesses, schools.
Contact suggestions: UNH co-op Extension Service, Lewis Oil, and other fuel suppliers, Hicks lumber and hardware, Gaudreau Recycling, Colebrook Fire Dept ( B Lawton) to do a session on Fireplace and woodstove safety, Mohawk Grange. (Members volunteered to contact these and other possible vendors).
Energy Committee needs to sign up for a Break out session for the Expo, to tell others about our mission and vision and agenda. J Moran to do that.
Local Energy Production Discussion on using local dams (Murphy’s, and others on Conn lakes) to produce local energy - questions about ownership and management, and desire to contact Sen/Reps about putting in a generating power plant in them for local use. Lake Wallace has a small Hydroplant. Also need to see if we can facilitate more local wind turbine energy production to benefit local area.
Respectfully Submitted, Julie Moran
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