Energy Task Force fully charged up

SHARON  — The Sharon Energy Task Force (SETF) was created by the Board of Selectmen as a result of a resolution passed on June 9, 2009.

The resolution stated that Sharon would make best efforts to obtain 20 percent of its energy from renewable resources by the end of 2010.

As an incentive for completing this Clean Energy Community Program, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund will provide a free solar-electric system for a municipal building.

The SETF comprises eight local citizens and is chaired by Scott Heth. In addition to launching the Clean Energy Community Program, its major accomplishment to date has been the submission to the state of Connecticut for Sharon’s share of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) in the amount of $33,750.

This block grant is made pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed in early 2009 to stimulate the U.S. economy.

Included in the Recovery Act was the presidential priority to deploy the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable energy technologies for energy efficiency and for conservation.

The Block Grant is intended to help municipalities develop, promote, implement and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects and programs that are designed to reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce energy usage, improve energy efficiency and to create and retain jobs.

The grant of $33,750 made to Sharon is made pursuant to these goals.

In addition to submitting and managing projects funded by the EECBG, the Sharon Energy Task Force is dedicated to helping the town of Sharon and its residents and businesses reduce energy consumption and energy costs.

Ongoing initiatives include developing an energy plan for the town of Sharon, providing a central clearing house for information on energy conservation and renewable energy sources, searching for funding for energy conservation projects for town buildings, providing education activities and materials regarding energy efficiency and renewable energy and creating a benchmark of current energy usage for each town building so that energy savings can be tracked.

As each activity is launched and as more information is available, details will be provided both over the Sharon town Web site and through the local media.

For more information contact Heth at 860-364-0520 or e-mail him at sheth@audubon.org.