Truro's Energy Cost

Energy Forum - Wednesday 20 April 6:45 pm, Truro Public Library

Because of the level of interest that townspeople have exhibited about Truro's energy plans, the Energy Committee decided to hold a public Energy Forum at the Truro Public Library on Wednesday, April 20, at 6:45 pm. Please come and participate and learn about Truro's energy plans.

How Can We Reduce Energy Costs for Truro?

Anyone who stops at the gas pump knows that energy rates have been rising. In the past 6 years, the price of gas at the pump has risen 10% per year on the average. And Truro's energy costs have been rising right along with the rates.

In 2009 we spent $311,000 on municipal energy costs. It's the town's 3rd largest expense category. About half that energy cost was for electricity. Over the next 15 years we expect the town's electric costs to rise from $150,000 per year to over $250,000 per year. We will pay over $3,000,000 for electricity over the 15-year period! And that will pose a challenge to keeping Truro affordable.

Generating Our Own Electricity

In 2010 we made a dent in that cost growth and cut 13% of the school's electric bill by installing solar panels on the gym roof. That's a good start for sure.

There is only one challenge we now face as to why we can't do that year after year and ELIMINATE Truro's electicity cost -- it takes money up front to buy the panels. If we could find the money to install more panels on town property, we could save most of that $3,000,000 we are going to otherwise pay.

Fortunately, now Truro has an opportunity to receive significant grant money from the State by qualifying as a “Green Community.” We expect Green Community grants of at least $125,00 per year that can be used to reduce our energy costs and help our tax rate. That helps keep Truro affordable for everyone who lives and works here.

What Do We Need To Do To Qualify for Grants?

To qualify, the Board of Selectmen, Town Staff, and the Energy Committee have some work to do on an application; plus, as townspeople, we need to adopt a package of 4 new bylaws: 

	-	Zone the landfill to allow for solar panels -- a "Solar Farm". This will give us an ideal space to produce our own electricity economically. Two acres of solar panels will power the entire town's municipal electrical needs!
	-	Adopt the “Stretch” Energy Building code about 6 months before it will be mandated by the State. This will make new residential construction 15-20% more energy efficient and that much more affordable for the homeowner, especially as energy rates continue to rise.

These will be voted on at the Annual Town Meeting on April 26th.
These warrant articles (#20-#23) have been reviewed and recommended by the Board of Selectmen. The Planning Board has also been extremely helpful in developing the zoning articles.

To learn more about these, click on any of the links below:

• About Green Communities
• Truro's Energy Reduction Plan
• The Stretch Code
  

To watch a video of the Energy Committee presentation to the Board of Selectmen on this subject, just click on the video image at the left.

If you have any questions, please email them to truroenergy@gmail.com.

Truro Energy Committee