Post date: Mar 31, 2017 3:44:50 PM
We will be participating. Tim and I have already been discussing feasibility of wood heat for potential new facilities or facility upgrades.
For approximately the past three years the Town of Williamstown has participated in the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership (MTWP) initiative. Hank Art is currently the town’s representative to the MTWP Advisory Committee that has shaped the initiative. Jeffrey Thomas is also recently on the Advisory Committee representing Lever, Inc. One of the goals of the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership initiative is to improve the fiscal stability and sustainability of the municipalities in the MTWP area. One idea that was discussed at community meetings was the potential of reducing heating costs by switching from oil to energy efficient wood heat using local sustainably harvested low grade wood. Another request was to evaluate the potential air quality impacts associated with energy efficient wood heat. To that end, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has engaged the UMASS Clean Energy Extension (CEE) to conduct several tasks. One is to evaluate the potential to heat municipal buildings with energy efficient wood heat which may prove to be a cost effective measure for communities to reduce and /or stabilize energy costs. CEE will also assess the energy efficient wood heating potential associated with large boilers in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors. Another key task is to conduct an air quality monitoring study of existing energy efficient wood heat systems over the next two heating seasons to evaluate potential air quality and public health impacts. This study will provide important information to communities if they want to consider energy efficient wood heat as an alternative to oil. The results of the air quality and health impact study will also be used by the MTWP Advisory Committee to inform decisions about future projects if funding is received for the MTWP from the State or the U.S. Forest Service.
An initial part of the CEE study is to understand the current heating requirements for municipal buildings in the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership area. The UMASS Clean Energy Extension has prepared the attached “Information Request on Municipal Building Heating” for more specific information. As a Green Community much of the initial information needed to initiate this study is in the MassEnergyInsights (MEI) online tracking system. If your community would like to participate in this study, we ask that you provide “read only” authorization for CEE to access your town’s MEI Account by signing and returning the attached authorization form. In addition, please provide the name and contact information of a contact person from your community in case CEE needs more information.
Please note that this is a voluntary request. However, this study will yield better results for the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership if more communities participate. Please do not hesitate to contact either of us with questions.
Sincerely,
Thomas Matuszko, Assistant Director Peggy Sloan, Planning Director
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Franklin Regional Council of Governments