Berkshire Regional Energy Plan

Cedar BlazekLucie ColemanZoe GrueskinChie Togami

We Would Like to Thank

Amy KacalaNancy Nylen

Wendy PennerAnnie Stilts

Sarah Gardner – Williams College

Overview

Why is This Important? Global CO2 emissions reached a record high in 2011 Recent studies suggest that US trend of decreasing

emission (down 9% from 2005) is unlikely to continue unless: We find alt. methods for producing and consuming

energy

We need a new regional energy plan to address growing problems with our energy production/consumption To ensure Berkshire County can have energy security,

ensure environmental and public health, and help mitigate climate change

Overview

Where do we fit in?

TASK 1: Outreach Strategy and Key Issues Roundtables

solicit input from the full range of residents, businesses, and community leaders on the topic of renewable energy generation

TASK 2: Develop a Regional Energy Inventory

County-wide energy efficiency and renewable energy project inventory Regional energy baseline by sector, detailing as possible how energy is

used community to community, including levels of local participation in the Green Communities program, where local energy committees are active and what their focus has been, and resources and incentives available to support local efforts.”

From: Proposal for Providing Regional Energy& Efficiency Planning Services – CET and Peregrine

Overview

New England Electricity Mix

3%

9% 1%

10%

3%

36%

29%

7%

2%

Landfill Gas + Biomass (3%)

Coal (9%)

Hydro: Large (1%)

Hydro: Small (0%)

Imported Power (10%)

Municipal Trash (3%)

Natural Gas (36%)

Nuclear (29%)

Oil (7%)

Solar (0%)

Wind (2%)

New England Greenstart and New England Wind Disclosure Label 2009

Overview

How Much Electricity Do We Use?

Residential Electricity Consumption

County Commercial, Industrial, and Municipal Electricity Consumption

Overview

How Much Electricity Do We Use?

Residential 55,338 households * 8,036.3 kWH (AVG

kWH for single-family attached house) = 444,712.77 MWH

Commercial/Municipal (4557 Employer Establishments + 7761

Non-Employer Establishments) * 8471.6 (AVG kWH for New England Commercial/Municipal)=

879,440.74 MWH

Sources: US Census Economic Data, 2009-2011 American Community Survey, US EIA

Overview

Policies, Grants, & Incentives

Photo: Eric Haynes, Governor’s Office

PoliciesInternational1997/2005: Kyoto ProtocolNational2009: Obama’s Copenhagen Commitment

Regional2009: Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Projected U.S. Emissions under Different Federal Regulatory Scenarios and State Scenarios

Source: Nicholas M. Bianco and Franz T. Litz, “Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the United States Using Existing Federal Authority and State Action,” (Washington, DC: World Resources Institute, 2010).

Policies

2008: Global Warming Solutions Act 2008: Green Communities Act

Massachusetts

Photo: Eric Haynes, Governor’s Office

Source: Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020

Portfolio of Policies

Policies

Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020Projected Impact

“Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020,” Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 2010, ES-7.

Policies

In progress: Wetlands Protection Act Regulatory Reform – “limited projects” status for access roads to renewable energy projects

MassachusettsPolicies

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs http://www.mass.gov/eea/air-water-climate-change/climate-change/massachusetts-global-warming-solutions-act/

Stretch Code: energy efficiency standards for new construction

Renewable Energy Bylaws: Enable as-of-right siting for wind and solar R&D, manufacturing, or energy generation

LocalPolicies

Grants & Incentives

MunicipalitiesRenewable Energy

• Green Communities• MassCEC grants• EPA

Energy Efficiency

• Green Communities• MassCEC grants• U.S. Department of Energy• EECBG (ARRA - DOE)

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs http://www.mass.gov/eea/air-water-climate-change/climate-change/massachusetts-

global-warming-solutions-act/

Residential & CommercialRenewable Energy

• Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) - Federal• Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) - Federal• Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) – Mass• Net metering

Energy Efficiency

• Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction• Audits, assessments from Massachusetts utilities• Tax credits for home energy improvements

MassCEChttp://www.masscec.com/index.cfm/page/About-Clean-Energy/pid/11138

Grants & Incentives

Checking in with Green Communities

Mass.gov 7-24-12http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/pressreleases/2012/2012724-governor-announces-green-

communities.html

Berkshire Green Communities

Williamstown, Pittsfield, Lenox, Becket, Richmond, Great Barrington

Challenges• Shortage of staff• Design of Green Communities Act: focused on energy reduction

Recommendations• Committee composed of citizens and city employees• “Circuit-rider” – role for BRPC?• Improve legislation: account for source of energy generation, achievements before designation, residential and commercial

Hopes for Energy Plan• Document goals and objectives• Provide more support • Give weight to grant proposals

Berkshire Green Communities

Current Renewable

Energy Project

Inventory in Berkshire

County

Current Commercial Scale Solar Project

Pittsfield – Silver Lake Solar Facility (10/10) 8 acres – 1.8 MW

http://www.pittsfield-ma.org/newsdetail_T1_R24.htm

Current Projects

Hoosac Wind

http://www.robinson-donovan.com/news/hoosac-wind-farm-permit-completed_194/

Facts:-Florida, MA (by 12/12)-19 turbines -28.5MW-Developer – Iberdroia Renewable

Benefits:-$257,000 annual payments to town-140 temp. jobs & 3-5 permanent-Off-set ~100million lbs of CO2/year

Current Projects

Berkshire Wind

http://www.industcards.com/wind-usa-e.htm

Facts:-Brodie Mountain (5/11)-Owner: Berkshire Wind Power Co-op-10 turbines-15MW-$149,000 predevelopment financing loan from MassCEC-$64,705,000 in tax exempt revenue bonds from BWPCC

Benefits:-50 full-time jobs during constructionOff-set ~612 metric tons CO2/year or 1.17 million barrels of oil

Berkshire Wind

Current Projects

Survey Goal: To gather

input and assess attitudes toward electricity use and production, and to determine if renewable energy projects would be a good fit for Berkshire County.

Survey Methodology

Wind Turbine at Jiminy Peak Ski Resort

Solar Array in Pittsfield, MAhttp://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/13376/slide_13376_182357_large.jpg?1354570362313http://www.powdermag.com/files/2012/11/jiminy-peak-wind-turbine.jpg

Geographical Diversity

North DistrictMiddle DistrictSouth District

Survey Methodology

http://www.berkshirerealtors.org/images/berkshiremap2.gif

TownsAdams (N)N. Adams (N)Williamstown (N)Lanesborough (M)Pittsfield (M)Great Barrington

(S)Lenox (S)Stockbridge (S)

Survey Methodology

Talking Stockbridge, MAen Communities

Talkin Great Barrington, MAen Communitieshttp://luxuryexperience.com/images/stories/Destinations/

Berkshires/great%20barrington,%20massachusetts.jpg

Administering the Survey Surveying was conducted on five different

dates – 11/11, 11/17, 11/18, 11/19. and 11/23 The majority of surveys were administered

verbally with the surveyors marking responses and transcribing quotes.

Surveyors worked in pairs Surveying was done primarily in heavily

trafficked areas – farmers markets, downtown street corners, and supermarkets.

Important note: No Williams students were surveyed

Survey Methodology

Survey Challenges Original survey – Too long!

- multiple drafts Difficulty finding residents and not

tourists Difficulty finding people willing to take

the survey Incomplete responses Limited sample size (55 completed

surveys)

Survey Methodology

n=19

n=20

n =18

Survey Response by Region

North

Middle

South

32.7%34.5%

36.5%

Survey Results

N =55

n=25

n=30

Survey Response by Gender

Male

Female

Survey Response by Age Group

20%

n=6

n=15n=7

n=11

n=8 n=7

Survey Response by Age Group

18-25 yrs.26-35 yrs.36-45 yrs.46-55 yrs.

14.5%

Survey Results

54.5%

45.5%

20%12.7%

27.3%

11%12.7%

N=55

N=55

0

1

2

3

4 3.623.29

Question 1: In thinking about meeting fu-ture energy needs in your home or business,

how important is each of the following to you?

1 - NOT IMPOR-TANT AT ALL2 – NOT VERY IMPORTANT

3 - IMPORTANT4 - VERY IM-PORTANT

Survey Results

N=55

Regional

Ener

gy In

depen

dence

Job C

reat

ion

Climat

e Chan

ge Miti

gation

Reduce

d Air

and W

ater

Pollu

tion

Human

Hea

lth

0

1

2

3

4

2.98

3.743.36

3.74 3.81

Question 2: Below is a list of reasons that have been suggested for increasing energy efficiency

and renewable electricity generation in the Berk-shires. Please rate the following choices based on

their importance to you.

1 - NOT IMPOR-TANT AT ALL2 – NOT VERY IMPORTANT

3 - IMPORTANT4 - VERY IM-PORTANT

N=55

Survey Results

Regio

nal E

nerg

y In

depe

nden

ce

Job

Creat

ion

Climat

e Cha

nge

Miti

gatio

n

Reduc

ed A

ir an

d W

ater

Pol

lutio

n

Human

Hea

lth0

1

2

3

4

2.92

3.81

3.28

3.62 3.73

3.04

3.683.43

3.86 3.89

Question 2: Below is a list of reasons that have been suggested for increasing energy efficiency and renew-

able electricity generation in the Berkshires. Please rate the following choices based on their importance to you.

Male

Female

1 - NOT IMPOR-TANT AT ALL2 – NOT VERY IMPORTANT

3 - IMPORTANT4 - VERY IMPOR-

TANT N=55

Survey Results

n=35

n=18

n=2

Question 3: How much of our electricity do you think currently comes from renewable

sources?

(a) 0-25%

(b)25%-50%

(c)50%-75%

63.6%

32.7%

3.6%

N=55

Survey Results

Survey Results

n=3

n=23

n=27

Question 4: How much of our electricity would you like to see come from re-

newable sources?

(b)25-50%

(c) 50-75%

(d)75%-100%

5.7%

43.3%

N=53

50.9%

18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

11 1

3

52

7

4

1

3

8 3

3

3

4

Question 4: How much of our electricity would you like to see come from renewable

sources?

75-100%50-75%25-50%0-25%

Age Category

Percentage of total re-sponses by

age category

Survey Results

N=55

Coal

Natur

al G

as

Nuclear

Biom

ass

Hydro

power

Solar

Wind

(sm

all-s

cale)

Wind

Farm

0

1

2

3

4

1.98

2.67

1.77

2.45

3.433.8

3.43 3.44

Question 5: How do you feel about each of the following energy sources as means of energy

production for Berkshire County, regardless of where the energy is generated?

Energy Sources

1 – STRONGLY OPPOSE

2 – MILDLY OPPOSE

3 – MILDLY SUPPORT

4 – STRONGLY SUPPORT

Survey Results

N=55

Averaged Responses

Coal

Natur

al G

as

Nucle

ar

Biom

ass

Hydro

power

Sola

r

Win

d (s

mal

l-sca

le)

Win

d Fa

rm

0

1

2

3

4

2.21

2.64

1.64

2.27

3.19

3.673.38 3.48

North District – Averaged Responses

Energy Sources

1 - Strongly Opppse

2 - Mildly Oppose

3 - Mildly Suppory

4 - Strongly Support

Survey Results

N=19

Coal

Natur

al G

as

Nucle

ar

Biom

ass

Hydro

power

Sola

r

Win

d (s

mal

l-sca

le)

Win

d Fa

rm

0

1

2

3

4

1.82

2.65

2.12

2.47

3.72

2.12

3.44 3.42

Middle District – Averaged Responses

Energy Sources

1 - Strongly Oppose

2 - Mildly Oppose

3 - Mildly Support

4 - Strongly SupportN=20

Survey Results

Coal

Natur

al G

as

Nucle

ar

Biom

ass

Hydro

power

Sola

r

Win

d (s

mal

l-sca

le)

Win

d Fa

rm

0

1

2

3

4

1.94

2.6

1.5

2.53

3.41

3.76 3.76

3.41

South District – Averaged Responses

Energy Sources

1 - Strongly Oppose

2 - Mildly Oppose

3 - Mildly Support

4 - Strongly SupportN=18

Survey Results

n=38

n=13

Question 6: Have you seen any of the re-newable energy projects in Berkshire

County

YESNO

25.1%

74.5%

N=51

Survey Results

n=25

n=5

n=5

Question 7: If Yes, what do you think of the projects you are familiar with?

Like them

Dislike them

Indifferent71.4%

14.3%

14.3%

N=35

Survey Results

Main Survey Findings Residents we surveyed were very

supportive of renewable energy. (50 of 53 ~ 50%-100%)

Respondents favored solar energy followed by a three-way tie between hydropower, small-scale wind, and wind farms.

Of the respondents who had seen renewable energy projects, the majority indicated that they liked them. (25/35)

Survey Results

Verbal Survey Results

North Adams, Female, age 18-25, 11/9/12“ I do not know a whole lot about the projects to

make an informed decision.” (regarding renewable projects)

Adams, Female, age 26-35, 11/9/12“ I have nothing negative to say about any of these choices because I am not familiar with how each and every one of these choices are efficient or not efficient.”

Lack of Energy Knowledge

Survey Results

Verbal Survey Results

Adams, Male 26-35 (32), 11/11/12“I think wind energy is good. I’ve seen the wind farms out in California, that’s the place for them.  They are in big wastelands out there.  The Berkshires don’t have that type of land.  Here they are eyesores and ruin our ridges.”

Q: What do you think of the projects you are familiar with?

Survey Results

Verbal Survey Results

Lenox, Female, 26-35, 11/23/12 “We can’t expect tourists to come visit our mountains if we put these big machines on top of them.”

Q: What do you think of the projects you are familiar with?

Stockbridge, Female, age 56-65, 11/11/12“I thought windmills would be a good idea, but not here, because of the bird migrations. We’re right in their central path”

Survey Results

Positive Feedback Williamstown, Female, age 56-

65, 11/17/12 “ I see the wind power and I think

oh, it’s good it’s wind, not coal, not nuclear, not oil; it’s wind”

Lenox, Female, age 36-45, 11/11/12“We should aim to use build lots of small scale projects (eg. wind mills on homes like on sailboats).”N. Adams, Female, age 25-35, 11/9/12“I know some residents feel the turbines/windmills are an eyesore and “ruining the landscape” but my family and I believe that these sort of energy initiatives are working towards protecting and preserving said landscapes!”

Survey Results

State Progress

Priorities

Berkshire County Emissions by Source:

Looking ForwardWe have the policies, the financial support, and the knowledge to move

forward. We believe that what the regional energy plan could do best is to clarify and refine our goals for energy

efficiency and renewable energy generation, and to help build the

institutional and social connections to achieve them

Thank YouQuestions?