Michelle
From: juliadundorf@metrocast.net
To: tobiasmarquette@yahoo.com; clayaz@comcast.net; mjbehrmann@gmail.com
Subject: Rockingham/Strafford Energy Committee Alliance
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:00:34 -0500
Greetings fellow local energy committee (LEC) members and related energy colleagues,
This is a follow-up letter to the 1st convening of the Rockingham/Strafford Energy Committee Alliance on September 25th. It was a very successful gathering with a great deal of positive feedback and input on how to make this a powerful voice for municipal action on climate change and energy issues. What was infinitely clear to the organizers, Tobias Marquette, Julia Dundorf, Clay Mitchell and Michael Behrmann, were the powerful human resources in the room. Together we are going to make some substantial headway here in NH on these complex energy independence and efficiency issues.
Next Alliance meeting on January 16th from 6:30 – 9PM at the UNH Alumni Center, 1925 Room, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH
To sum up a few critical pieces of feedback from the surveys:
· Meetings will be held quarterly
· Central location of Durham area works well
· One of the key areas of action for this Alliance is in the collaboration of neighboring communities in order to share not only best practices but to avoid missteps and redundancy.
Taking these considerations into account we are working on the following projects to support the Alliance.
1. Clay Mitchell and his associate Mike Behrman are madly at work on an exciting networking webpage for our collective use. It is a page that uses wiki-format software (similar to wikipedia) that allows users to add any information about energy matters in New Hampshire, can serve as an information center and web presence for any town's local energy committee, and provides key info on projects and technologies. You can access the developing page at http://www.nhenergy.org/. To begin editing yourself simply create an account, log in and begin editing the desired page. A "Getting Started" link is provided at the bottom of the main page that will help navigate the editing possibilities.
2. We are working with Sam Witherbee of the Carbon Coalition to enhance the community page on their website to house some valuable tools for the Alliance as well as the larger NH lec community. Check out the webpage and related links Carbon Coalition Thanks for your help Sam!
a. Calendar of events – please populate it with your events! Without your input it will not be an effective tool
b. Handbook for LECs
c. Community Energy Committee Forum – with a specific area for this Alliance. We spoke of the need for this tool at the meeting. Now you need to do your part and share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the rest of us. Strings have been established. Feel free to add.
3. Scheduling the next Alliance meeting on January 16th from 6:30 – 9PM at the UNH Alumni Center, 1925 Room, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH . We will be discussing the potential for green ordinances in communities with a presentation by Clay Mitchell and Mike Behrmann on the success Epping's Planning Board had in passing one in their town. We see their presentation as an introduction to a larger audience discussion on the myriad, complex issues associated with efficiency/green ordinances in communities. Several of our Seacoast towns are currently wading through these issues and we want to hear from you! This will be a dynamic evening. Some of the issues to be covered in this dialogue:
a. Master Plans for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
b. Incorporating Existing Green Building Standards.
c. Examples of other approaches.
d. How to Create a sustained and positive PR presence.
4. Update of the Carbon Coalition's role in supporting LECs, including work of their LEC working group. These tools and services will be of great use to the Alliance and other LECs across the state.
5. Please spread the word of this gathering to your colleagues with your community or beyond.
6. RSVPs are very helpful for space planning.
We hope the holiday season finds you all healthy and productive. Enjoy the beauty of this real NH winter.
Regards,
Julia Dundorf, Tobias Marquette, Clay Mitchell and Michael Behrmann
Julia B. Dundorf
Co-Director
NH Carbon Challenge
Complex Systems Research Center
39 College Rd.
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: 603-862-3128
Cell: 603-978-2482
Email: julia@nhcc.unh.edu
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