Still Growing Strong: Powering Up Local Assets

  • Location of wood pellet silo being installed at Forster Building

The Town of Strong was selected as a pilot community for Maine Rural Partners' Harness the Wealth Initiative and became vigorously engaged in examining its strategic economic development assets in 2006.  Renewable energy resources were identified as a strategic asset worthy of further examination.  Strong successfully secured a CDBG program Planning Grant in 2009 to explore community energy options and a team began work with Maine Rural Partners to review all opportunities. 

Strong Water District In-line hydro from the Day Mountain reservoir was explored with the help of Kleinschmidt Associates but rejected given the likely status of the old pipes and small user base that would have to carry the finances.  Solar street lights were investigated but found to be too expensive given Strong's latitude.

Wind power sites were explored with technical assistance from Unity College and an anemometer was placed on the Burbank Mountain US Cellular tower (existing resource) in December 2010.  Unity College and MRP will work with the town's Energy Team to review data on the wind resource and determine if a community energy project is viable.  A full discussion of wind turbine impacts and options for ownership and financing options is anticipated.

Strong was in a natural position to leverage the findings of its CDBG planning grant into an Efficiency Maine Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant to take a careful look at municipal energy usage for efficiency and local assets.  An Efficiency Maine audit was done in 2010 and recommendations for tightening up the 3 town buildings was put together, along with proposing to install a wood pellet burner to be supplied from Geneva Energy Fuels in downtown Strong.  This package was approved at the March 2011 town meeting and the town has since received a $25,000 Wood to Energy Grant and will be utilizing another $36,200 in EECBG funds to match its local commitment to save energy. 

The goals approved by the Town are to cut the Forster Municipal Building's heating costs in half, cut its electricity costs by a third, and shift the heating supply from IMPORTED oil to LOCAL wood.  These goals will be accomplished during Summer of 2011!  The combined energy investment package will cost $93,000 and pay itself back in 10 years.  The local appropropriation of $28,000 will pay itself back in 3 years.  Shifting from oil to wood alone will save the taxpayers perhaps $6000/year and redirect the remaining $3000/year for building heat into the local economy.

Next on the horizon are the community wind study and exploring uses of excess steam heat created by Geneva Energy Fuels.  A greenhouse business is our top priority for exploration. Strong will be marketing itself as a green community able to supply its own food and fuel to a healthy and engaged population.  Open for business!

 

 

Project recommended: Yes, everyone should do this!

Energy is expensive.  Every municipality should spend some time and money to invest in an energy analysis of their buildings and consider how local assets can be mobilized to meet municipal needs -- in this case heat and electricity.  This keeps money in the local economy, improves the environment and saves taxpayers money. The energy analysis needs to include payback calculations to justify efficiency investments. 

Many communities in Maine have a forest resource and should consider switching from oil to wood for heat.  The $25,000 makes the $40,000 installation cost much easier for Strong but even without a grant the payback would have come in 7 years and keeps the dollars in the local economy. 

Building support for the planning process in an area known to have likely funding available was also a good strategic move.  Strong was perfectly positioned to utilze these two energy programs that were funded by the Recovery Act. 

Project budget:

$5,000grantMaine Office of Community Development (state government)
$10,000grantEfficiency Maine (state government)
$25,000grantMaine Forest Service (state government)
$36,200grantEfficiency Maine (state government)
$993rebateEfficiency Maine (state government)
$28,620self-investmentTown of Strong (local government)
$130,000total

This is an ongoing project.

Our decision to pursue this project was influenced by:

  • Audit Recommendation
  • Community Need
  • Community Survey
  • Tradition
  • Vendor Recommendation

Project impacts:

Primary impact focus: Economic

  • Strong's Energy Plan will save the taxpayers an estimated $9,055/year in heating and electricity costs while redirecting $3,000/year into the local wood products economy.

Key goals:

  • Cut annual Forster Bulding heating and hot water costs in half Work is continuing toward this goal.
  • Cut annual Forster Building electric usage by a third Work is continuing toward this goal.
  • Shift Forster Building heating supply from imported oil to local wood Work is continuing toward this goal.

Action steps:

  • Town commits to doing strategic plan with widespread citizen engagement
  • Renewable energy recognized as potential economic asset
  • Citizen survey and forum support CDBG planning grant application to further explore; hydro, solar & wind explored
  • Findings of CDBG planning grant leveraged into EECBG planning grant
  • Municipal buldings audited, paybacks evaluated, PACE program investigated, wood heat options explored, anemometer installed
  • Package assembled for town meeting as part of Energy Plan; plan adopted March 2011
  • Town applies for Wood to Energy Grant from Maine Forest Service and Phase 2 EECBG grant from Efficiency Maine
  • Building retrofit and wood pellet boiler installation to be done during Summer 2011 by local contractors; pellets supplied by Geneva Energy Fuels
  • Wind and steam opportunties to be further explored

Technical assistance needed:

Lessons learned:

  • Look to local resources, especially expertise. Strong's Energy Team has an electrical expert, window expert, heating installer, pellet manufacturer and woodcutter involved.

Project categories:

Participating partners:

For more information, contact:

Mary Ann Hayes — Orono, ME

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