[CoolCommunities] FW: October Cool News

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Cool News
October 2009
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Dates to Remember


October 21
Green and Lean Lecture Series: Putting it all Together - Wood, Wind, and Solar

Green & Lean is a series of monthly lectures which focus on ways to save money
and resources. We have adopted a very pragmatic approach - no technical jargon, 
no complicated concepts, just straightforward, useable information you can put to
use in your own home or place of work. For more information, contact Erika Shriner
at 244-3532.
7:00 pm
St. John Episcopal Church, 315 Main Street, Southwest Harbor

October 30
Sustainable Development and Climate Change - the Swedish Approach

Anders Boheman, International Director of Climate Policy in Sweden, will discuss
 Sweden's ambitious climate policies, which are regarded as among the most successful
in the world. Included in the discussion will be an examination of Sweden's far 
reaching climate targets, its measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission, and its
commitment to a strong international climate agreement in upcoming international
 meetings in Copenhagen, which Sweden will foster through its Presidency of the 
EU in 2009.


To reserve seats or for more information contact Sandy Wachholz at wachholz at usm.maine.edu
[mailto:wachholz at usm.maine.edu]

4:30 pm
Lee Hall, Wishcamper Center, USM - Portland Campus


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Send Us Your News!

If you have an event, a program you want to share, or just an update on your campaign
please send us your news and we will include it in the next Cool Newsletter.
Send news to the Sierra Club [mailto:maine.chapter at sierraclub.org] office.

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Cool Congress Brings Together Communities from all Across the State
On Saturday, October 3, over 100 Cool Community activists, state and town officials,
students and business owners gathered in Augusta for Maine's 1st Annual Cool Congress
to participate in workshops, seminars, networking and exchanging of ideas, all aimed
at reducing energy consumption and saving money in local communities.
In order to reduce green house gas emissions and to include our neighbors to the
 north, the conference was broadcast live to Fort Kent and Presque Isle using interactive
television technology (ITV).
Among the panelists speaking in the day's plenary session was Suzanne Watson, Director
of Policy at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), John 
Kerry, Director of the Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security, Rhett
Lamb, Planning Director for Keene, New Hampshire, Chris Wilhite, Executive Director
of the Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter, and Dale McCormick, Director of the Maine
State Housing Authority. Bill McKibben, author, scholar, environmentalist and founder
of 350.org gave the keynote address.
Workshops included such topics as organizing cool teams, local renewable energy 
projects, funding opportunities for municipalities, efficiency approaches for municipalities,
green transportation planning for communities, local and regional planning for sustainability
and how to conduct baseline carbon inventories.
The Congress was a huge success. Many participants followed up with the steering
 committee and thanked us for such a great event.  Some even said they went directly
to their town offices and told them how many wonderful things they had learned that
day.
Many of the towns represented that day were Cool Communities. Some representatives
however, were not from Cool Communities and that is just as exciting. Our hope at
Maine Partners for Cool Communities is that existing Cool Communities will take 
the information they gathered at the Congress and build upon the great work that
 has been done already in their towns, but also that we have encouraged new towns
to join the effort.
If you missed the event or you want to revisit the information you can view Bill
 McKibben's keynote address, the plenary session and all of the workshop presenter's
wonderful slideshows at www.coolmaine.org [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=4v96fadab.0.hpnoi5cab.f4ossjcab.1107&ts=S0423&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coolmaine.org%2F].
Thanks to everyone who came and made this year's 1st Annual Cool Congress extraordinary.
Keep up the great work because we are making a difference!
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PUC Grant Opportunities for Communities
Application Deadline: November 18th
Efficiency Maine is requesting applications for Municipal and County energy efficiency
and conservation projects, including renewable energy projects, from units of local
and county government. The funding for this program will be provided through the
 Recovery Act's Federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program.
This is an opportunity for communities and counties to obtain financial support 
for energy use planning, for action-ready projects that previously could not be 
funded, and/or for the initial stages of projects promising long-term energy savings
and emissions reductions.

This opportunity consists of two alternatives:


Custom Projects - up to $85,000 individual
or up to $500,000 regionally to assist communities to bring planned projects to 
realization


or
Template projects - up to $10,000 to assist communities with planning and/or energy
use analysis.
Cool Team members are encouraged to speak with your municipal leaders and ask that
they take advantage of this great opportunity!
For more information or to receive an application contact Jennifer Paul at the Maine
Public Utilities Commission jennifer.paul at maine.gov [mailto:jennifer.paul at maine.gov].
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DOE to Fund up to $454 Million for Retrofit Ramp-ups in Energy Efficiency
The competitive portion of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)
has $390 million available for community-scale retrofit projects that will result
in significant, long-term energy savings and can serve as national models for widespread
energy efficiency efforts. These projects should demonstrate a sustainable business
model for providing cost-effective energy upgrades for much of the residential, 
commercial and public buildings in a specific community. Approaches might include
innovative partnerships between public and private sectors, utility retrofit and
 audit programs, innovative financing arrangements, and others.


Another $64 million is available to local governments that weren't eligible for 
earlier grants this year. These funds are to help expand local energy savings efforts
in the commercial, residential, transportation, or industrial sectors.
As Secretary Chu stated, "Energy efficiency isn't just low-hanging fruit; it's fruit
lying on the ground. We have the tools to reduce energy use at home and at work 
and to provide huge savings to families and businesses on their energy bills. But
use of these technologies has been far too limited because we lack the simple and
effective ways for people to access them."
He continued, "The 'Retrofit Ramp-Up' program will support large-scale models that
can open new energy efficiency opportunities to whole neighborhoods, towns, and,
 eventually, entire states."

He summarized, "The aim of the 'Retrofit Ramp-Up' program is to jump-start an industry
that makes energy efficiency savings easy to access and available to everyone. By
encouraging partnerships between local governments and effective private enterprises,
we hope tune-ups for buildings will become as accepted as tune-ups for cars. These
efforts will save Americans millions of dollars, reduce carbon pollution, and create
new green jobs."
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Solar Panels at Freeport Library could Lighten the Electricity Bill
If a Renewable Resources grant from the PUC is awarded, the Freeport library will
have 54 photovoltaic solar panels installed on the roof of the meeting room. The
 Freeport Town Council unanimously endorsed the library for this community demonstration
project grant because it's so busy with both after school students and adult meetings,
as well as other patrons. At the library the public will see informational signs
 and be able to monitor electricity output and usage on a computer.
As Donna Larson, Freeport town planner, noted, "The library staff has done an outstanding
job conserving energy."  In the last 6 years, they have saved 40,000 kilowatts per
year simply by conscientiously shutting off lights and other power users when not
needed. This $45,000 grant with an $11,000 local match requirement is a logical 
next step in the town's effort to save energy and thus money and resources.
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Free Carbon Footprint Analysis Available for Schools
The Maine Green School's Greenhouse Gas Energy Use Survey is about to begin its 
third year of service to Maine schools. This survey is a collaboration between the
Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Energy Education Program,
and provides participating schools with a free carbon footprint analysis and technical
assistance.

The program is seeking school districts to participate in Maine's 2009/10 survey.
All schools have to do is send in copies of their energy bills for the past year
 and are then provided with a report that:
- Calculates greenhouse gas emission by source and square foot;
- Calculates energy use per square foot and occupant;
- Compares the schools in the district to help prioritize energy conservation measures;
- Compares each of the schools to a state wide average, calculated through a Maine
Department of Education survey;
- Compares each of the school's buildings to other buildings across the country 
using EPA's Portfolio Manager Software.
- Identifies possible energy saving opportunities in school buildings.
Once the survey is completed, additional incentives may be available to schools 
to save energy and money. There is limited minigrant funding again this year for
 up to ten schools to follow this up with an energy audit by Efficiency Maine, Building
Operator Certification (BOC) Training, or a modest energy efficiency upgrade. Participating
schools may also request to have a DEP/MEEP staff person visit a school with their
infrared camera to identify heat loss issues in a building envelope.
In 2009, nine schools received minigrants with which: 5 school buildings were audited,
2 employees were sent to the BOC, and 2 school lighting upgrades were completed 
through this program. 5 school officials opted to have a DEP/MEEP person come with
the infrared camera, as well. You can see which schools participated last year here
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=4v96fadab.0.rqyd7adab.f4ossjcab.1107&ts=S0423&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maine.gov%2Fdep%2Fair%2Fgreenschools%2Fghgschool.htm]
This is a completely free service with financial rewards (while funding lasts) for
participation. To get started contact Beth Otto at beth.otto at maine.gov or 207-287-6096.
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Efficiency Maine's Wind Turbine Site Survey
Efficiency Maine invites applications for a Wind Turbine Site Survey within the 
State of Maine. The survey provides qualified applicants with a preliminary assessment
of the potential for wind generation at a specific site. Eligible participants include
Maine-based schools, communities, non-profit organizations and businesses. Residential
applications are not eligible. Applicants must pass the minimum requirements of 
the survey in order to qualify to go forward to other elements which will be rated
in the decision-making process. Applicants must show that they have the intention
and the means to establish a working wind turbine at the location if the study proves
the site to be of sufficient wind capacity. Applications are due by October 30th.
For a copy of the detailed RFP, contact: Paul L. Villeneuve, (207) 581-2271 or paul.villeneuve at umit.maine.edu.
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Cool Communities Organize Actions for the 350 Campaign
On October 24th people all over the world will come together to create an International
Day of Climate Change Action as part of the 350 Campaign.


Maine Partners for Cool Communities (MPCC) and Cool Communities across Maine are
 organizing actions. Here are just a few:


Portland
Bell Ringing and Climate Rally
12 pm
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception
At noon the bells of Portland will toll 350 times to call the city and world to 
action to reduce carbon emissions and take on climate change. As the bells toll 
a parade of participants will march from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
to Portland City Hall carrying banners, posters, and ringing their own hand held
 bells.
For more information or to participate click here [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=4v96fadab.0.sqyd7adab.f4ossjcab.1107&ts=S0423&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.350.org%2Fnode%2F8129].
Falmouth
Bring a Sole, Take A Stand
11 to 3pm
Lamey Wellehan, Falmouth Shopping Center, Rte. 1
Lamey Wellehan, Cool Falmouth, and others have organized a sidewalk event at the
 Falmouth Lamey Wellehan store. The event will include information about what citizens
can do about climate change, some local music, and a speakers. Up to and including
that day they will be collecting gently-worn footwear (all kinds and sizes) for 
Maine families in need. Their goal is to collect 350 pairs of gently worn footwear
by the 24th. You can drop off your gently-worn footwear at Lamey Wellehan stores
 across Maine on or before the 24th.

To help with this event contact Claudia King [mailto:seekingc at maine.rr.com]
Bath
Cool Bath is helping businesses and community groups in the area to take part by
 doing something involving the number 350. Yoga practitioners in the community are
going to gather and do 350 sun salutations, cumulatively, of course.


To help out with this effort contact Karen Wainberg [mailto:kwainber at maine.rr.com]


MPCC hopes to see all the Cool teams at one of these events or at their own community celebrations.

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