What do you think of this?

Longmeadow, part of 69 communities of the Pioneer Valley, is being asked to sign a memorandum of agreement for Promoting & Implementing the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan. On March 17, the Select Board will consider signing this agreement--an agreement that formally acknowledges our leadership in this area, and strengthen's our future.

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR PROMOTING AND IMPLEMENTING
THE PIONEER VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY PLAN

By and among participating municipalities in the Pioneer Valley Region, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments

WHEREAS, the Pioneer Valley region is facing serious problems as a result of rising energy costs and climate change;

WHEREAS, residents of the municipalities in the Pioneer Valley have strongly and clearly expressed their desire to take action to combat climate change;

WHEREAS, Massachusetts has adopted the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) that commits the Commonwealth to an increasingly larger percentage of electricity coming from renewable sources and the Pioneer Valley is committed to doing its part to achieve the RPS goals;

{"A renewable portfolio standard is a state policy that requires electricity providers to obtain a minimum percentage of their power from renewable energy resources by a certain date. Currently there are 24 states plus the District of Columbia that have RPS policies in place. Together these states account for more than half of the electricity sales in the United States." }

WHEREAS, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), in cooperation with the Pioneer Valley Renewable Energy Collaborative (PVREC) and the region’s clean energy/energy efficiency advocates, have developed the “Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan”, the Commonwealth’s first regional Clean Energy Plan, which includes strategies and tools for municipalities to conserve energy, facilitate the siting of clean energy projects and enhance energy efficiency to reduce energy costs;

WHEREAS, communities must think and act at the local level in order to effectively address climate change, energy efficiency and energy conservation;

Now, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the communities of the Pioneer Valley region and the PVPC and the FRCOG agree to adopt and work cooperatively to implement the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that a regional advisory committee, the PVREC, comprised of public and private sector representatives, shall continue to assist the PVPC, the FRCOG, and the communities of the Pioneer Valley in carrying out the goals of this agreement.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the communities of the Pioneer Valley, the PVPC, and the FRCOG agree to work together to promote clean energy, energy efficiency and energy security and implement the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan in the following ways:

Section 1. Role of the Communities
The communities of the Pioneer Valley region shall have the following role:

a. To consider the implementation of municipal recommendations included in the Clean Energy Plan, specifically:

-Become an ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) member either as a municipality or as part of a regional agency. {STATE REPS CAN HELP WITH FUNDING THIS}

-Endorse the clean energy policy statement adopted by PVPC and FRCOG. {A RESULT OF A PUBLIC PROCESS THAT DREW OVER 900 PEOPLE}

-Consider hosting or owning a clean energy generating system or plant in your community where resources and environmental conditions allow. {SOLAR PANELS?}

-Conduct energy audits (if not conducted in the last two years) and work with PVPC and FRCOG (as appropriate) to apply for MTC small renewable funds (or equivalent) to implement efficiency and conservation measures identified in audit. {MAYBE WE CAN SAVE MONEY TOO?}

-Consider a performance contract with an energy service company (ESCO), using performance contracting to conduct comprehensive energy audits of all municipal buildings, and implement recommendations at no upfront cost to community—funded via savings accrued by implementing energy efficiency measures.

-Adopt bylaws or ordinances to give incentives to encourage green buildings, energy efficiency, renewable energy production, public transportation, smart growth, clean fuels, efficient vehicles, and sustainable development.

-Include an energy element in your municipalities’ Master or Comprehensive Plan.

-Consider using brownfield sites for renewable energy development. {RUSSELL HAS DONE THIS}

-Collaborate with PVPC and FRCOG to apply for funds to implement the Clean Energy Plan.

-Work with the western Massachusetts legislative delegation to assure prompt adoption and implementation of policy recommendations in the Clean Energy Plan.

-Establish local residential building code to comply with Energy Star®.

-Purchase clean energy.

-Form an Energy Committee. {CHECK--WE'VE ALREADY DONE THIS!}

Section 2 Role of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (in Hampshire and Hampden counties) and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (in Franklin County) shall have the following role:

a. To assist communities to incorporate strategies for energy conservation and policies to support clean energy in Master Plans and other land use regulations addressing growth and development;

b. To assist municipalities in meeting their responsibilities under this Memorandum of Agreement, including seeking grant resources from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) and other public and private sources to provide local technical assistance for implementation of Clean Energy Plan recommendations.

c. Conduct energy audits (if not conducted in the last two years) and apply for MTC small renewable funds if available (or equivalent) to implement efficiency and conservation measures identified in the audit.

d. To assist communities to consider and implement Energy Performance Based Contracting (ESCO).

e. To assist communities by developing model bylaws or ordinances that provide incentives to encourage green buildings, energy efficiency, and renewable energy production.

Section 3 Role of the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Collaborative
The Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Collaborative shall be comprised of utility representatives, clean energy advocates, clean energy providers, municipal planners, planning board members, builders, architects, state officials and other interested citizens, and shall have the following roles:

a. To assist the PVPC and the FRCOG in promoting participation in this agreement, and to assist communities in implementing the goals of the agreement;

b. To assist in implementing the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Plan, including collaborating on grant proposals to implement recommendations and to sharing responsibility for plan implementation by integrating plan recommendations into ongoing work programs of member agencies of the Pioneer Valley Clean Energy Collaborative.

Section 4 Amendments
Any signatory to this Memorandum of Agreement may rescind their participation through a majority vote of the signatory’s governing body, including the Select Board for a Town or the Mayor for a City.

Section 5 Effective Date/Authorization This Memorandum of Agreement becomes effective on the date it is signed by the Select Board for a Town or the Mayor for a City, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.

_________________________________________

{INSERT SELECT BOARD NAMES HERE:

Hal W. Haberman (2008) Chair Person

Kathleen E. Grady (2009) Vice-Chair Person

Paul P. Santaniello (2009) Clerk - email

Brian M. Ashe (2010) Member

William G. Scibelli (2010) Member}

By the City/Town of __________________ Date

_________________________________________

Franklin Regional Council of Governments Date

_________________________________________
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Date