At tonight’s City Council
meeting, Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development Bill Scott and I
will be formally unveiling Amesbury’s 2014 energy plan. More than 87% of the
nearly $300,000 program will be financed through outside sources, including
$228,775 in grant funding.
The plan makes use of a
creative combination of multiple funding opportunities that will finance energy
projects throughout Amesbury. These projects utilize new technology to improve
our energy conservation efforts while also reducing costs. All of these
projects are expected to be complete by the end of this calendar year.
Below are brief descriptions of
each project:Water Department Electric Vehicle and Charging Station:
Currently,
Amesbury’s Water Department uses a van to read water meters throughout the
City. The van gets very low gas mileage at 7.1 MPG. By December 2014, that van
will be replaced by a 2014 Ford Focus EV. The electric vehicle does not operate
on gasoline. This new EV will allow the City to reduce our energy related
expenses.
Charging Station:
To complement the
electric vehicle, the grant includes a dual connector charging station which
will be located in the downtown parking garage. The station will not only serve
the Water Department’s EV, but it will also provide public access to charging.
We plan to use the recently announced wayfinding grant to place signs that will
direct the public to the charging station.
Downtown Period Lighting Retrofit:
By November of this
year, the City will convert 133 downtown period lights to LED technology. This
project will save the City over $26,000 annually in energy, labor, and material
costs.
Solar Compactors:
By November of this
year, two existing public trash receptacles will be replaced by BigBelly solar powered compactors. These
compactors come equipped with data logging technology which can be monitored
from a smart phone. When the compactor is full, the DPW will automatically be
notified. The compactors will allow the City to burn less fuel, and waste less
time checking trash receptacles on a regular basis.
Titcomb Landfill Solar Project:
By December of 2014,
the City will complete a feasibility study regarding a potential solar
development on the South Hunt Road
The middle school’s
energy use index (EUI) is higher than many comparable facilities in the region.
The goal of this project is to plan the upgrading of the AMS HVAC system in
order to reduce the building’s EUI. An HVAC upgrade could result in a utility
cost reduction of more than 20%.
CES, AMS, and AHS Outdoor Lighting Retrofit:
The outdoor lighting
at Cashman Elementary
School , Amesbury Middle School , and Amesbury High School
Door Seals in Schools and
By the end of this
calendar year, many door seals in the schools and in municipal buildings will
be replaced or improved to minimize drafts. This improved insulation will
result in energy savings and less fuel consumption.
In addition to these
projects, the City will be adding a part time Energy Manager to provide
necessary staff support for our energy plan. The position will be funded
through grant money at 20 hours per week, and will serve an integral role in
overseeing the implementation of these programs.
I want to thank the City
Council for their support of our efforts to aggressively pursue these
opportunities over the past few months. Councilors Joe McMilleon and Anne
Ferguson are spearheading an effort to transition our Energy Task Force into
its new role as a formal public body to be known as the Energy Committee. The Energy Committee will provide essential policy
direction and transparency throughout the implementation of our energy
initiatives.
Here is a link to the fully
detailed 2014 Energy Program: http://www.amesburyma.gov/files/filesystem/Amesbury_Green_Communities_Energy_Projects.pdfAs always, if you have any questions, you are welcome to contact the Mayor’s Office at any time.
I look forward to seeing these
projects develop!
Ken