Energy Forum Sparks Action Plan to Expand Conservation

A think-tank of 20 residents and organizational representatives from Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Jamestown and Tiverton came together at Middletown Town Hall Wednesday night to kick-start more energy conservation efforts and sustainable energy practices on Aquidneck Island and beyond.

The Aquidneck Island Energy Alliance, under the umbrella of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (AIPC), brought a "coalition for action" to the table — comprised of representatives of National Grid, the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Navy, town board and committee members from the various communities, non-profit leaders, business owners and community members — to devise strategies for energy conservation, along with community education and outreach to the public. Since 1985, the AIPC has worked to address planning issues at the regional level by identifying island-wide needs and organizing efforts to meet those needs. For example, the AIPC has provided island-wide traffic studies and has served as the liaison during the most recent and ongoing efforts of the U.S. Navy to transfer surplus property along the west side of Aquidneck Island to local civilian uses.

Topics at Wednesday night's meeting included electric cars, wind turbines, traffic studies, composting, and energy efficient insulation and appliances, as well as energy consumption by schools and town government buildings.

Taylor Rock, in charge of public outreach, said that the Alliance is mindful "not to re-create the wheel or do what other organizations are already doing."

Rather, the Alliance aims to capitalize off developing partnerships and building coalitions to learn from the accomplishments and progress already made among area corporations, schools, private businesses and local governments.

Moving forward, the Alliance identified five short-term goals:

• Consult with area corporations, businesses and government offices that have been successful in reducing their carbon footprint and conserving energy.
• Explore forming a splinter group to study larger commercial and business entities to develop a "best practices" standard for energy conservation.
• Continue education and public outreach on energy conservation at public events.
• Coordinate with area schools to see how the Energy Alliance may assist local teachers in the classroom with teaching energy conservation.
• Approach local government and school offices on tracking energy usage in each facility.

According to Tina Dolen, Executive Director, of the AIPC, the Energy Alliance is funded by a $35,000 grant from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, a philanthropic organization that seeks to protect and preserve "Newport County's unique quality of place," and improve the quality of life for its residents, as well as a $10,000 grant from the Prince Charitable Trusts, which provides funds to support programs that "improve the quality of life for residents of the city of Newport and Aquidneck Island," according to each group's website.

The next Energy Alliance meeting is expected to take place in October and the public is again invited to participate.