3 5 Town OKs plan to cut carbon footprint

Framework doesn’t include mandates for homeowners, businesses


The town council unanimously approved an energy plan that provides a strategic direction to reduce greenhouse gases “across all buildings within the municipality.”

The controversial plan, which was approved by the planning commission, was passed March 20. The plan was tabled from a meeting in January due to concerns about governmental overreach.

During the follow-up meeting last week, however, a presentation emphasized the voluntary, not mandatory, nature of the document regarding private property owners.

“All the public comments so far have really made us go back and look at every word in the plan again,” said Lisa Bryer, town planner. “I know it wasn’t the intent to mandate anything for residents or businesses at this point.”

According to Bryer, who gave the presentation, the document lacks data because it was drafted as a framework with recommendations and goals, not mandates. While the goal of the plan is to make progress in each sector, for example, it “recognizes the challenge of requiring private residents and business owners to take action in their own buildings. Therefore, this plan deploys approaches such as educating residents and businesses about energy reduction opportunities, leading by example in municipal buildings, and prioritizing both voluntary and mandatory actions at the community-wide level.”

The original proposal introduced in January included mandatory benchmarks for the commercial sector. The plan has since been amended to replace “mandatory” with “discuss and encourage.” The word “mandatory” in the original draft is one of the reasons that Nancy Beye, president of the council, suggested tabling the matter.

“I apologize,” Bryer said. “That’s something that we really missed. I don’t think it should be mandatory. I think we should just change that one word in the plan before we leave here tonight.”

Beye applauded the new draft. “It just felt completely different,” she said. “All I got out of it was education, education, education.”

Bryer said the plan has aligned its long-term goal with Rhode Island’s legislative mandate to meet net-zero energy by 2050 and generate 100 percent of its electricity through renewable energy by 2033.

“They’re good goals,” she said. “It made sense to do that.”

Bryer reminded the councilors that renewable energy could be purchased from outside sources to meet the goal.

“We don’t have to create every single ounce,” she said.

Bryer also cautioned homeowners and business owners about the assumed price of green technology.

“Our job in this plan is to motivate residents and businesses to consider upgrading,” she said. “Just because we talk about energy efficiency does not mean that it’s going to cost more.”

A key first step to implement the plan is to hire an energy manager to “ensure that the benefits of this plan are fully realized.” According to the document, a staff member dedicated to the plan could apply for federal grants and act as liaison between the government and the community to “take advantage of the opportunities that exist.”

The plan, despite these comprehensive recommendations, admits there is “no silver-bullet approach that will ensure our climate goals are met.” The municipality, instead, is seeking “a multifaceted approach that will systematically change the way we operate our buildings to ensure energy is used in a sustainable manner.”

Blake Dickinson, a former town councilor, spoke against the plan during open forum. He suggested for the council to adopt a green approach for public infrastructure, including municipal buildings, vehicles and equipment, opposed to approving the plan.

“Show us that it works,” he said. “Show us how great it is, if it is. I’m cynical.”

Dickinson, even though the plan refers to voluntary participation, also was concerned about the mention of private homes and businesses in the plan.

“Anytime a government says anything, ultimately it becomes compulsory,” he said.

Mary Meagher, vice president of the council, disagreed.

“I refute the idea that what is recommended by government become compulsory,” she said.

Subsidized through a grant from 11th Hour Racing, the 17-page plan was endorsed by the planning commission in November after it was written by Bryer, “local energy champion” Jamie Haines and John Balfe, a senior associate with the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. They used input from a 17-member advisory committee that represented, along with every department head, the school committee, the town council and the planning commission. This was not created as “a plan to live on the shelf,” Bryer said.