Cavendish Considers Solar Energy

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The following report is from the Cavendish Energy Committee:

The Town of Cavendish purchases electricity from Green Mountain Power for the municipal services of water pumping and filtration, sewage treatment, the transfer station and town offices. In 2013 these cost $43, 826. To stabilize costs and to protect against projected increases, the Cavendish Energy Committee recommends a town owned, 150 Kw solar installation.

Why Solar? Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electricity, which is sent to GMP through the power grid in an arrangement known as net metering. While the town does not actually keep the energy generated by the panels, our bill credited for that energy at the same rate that we pay to purchase power. In addition, the town receives an additional six center kilowatt-hour from GMP as incentive, further reducing the cost. In this way Cavendish contributes to the state's goal of 90% renewable energy by 2050.

System Details: The 624 Canadian made panels will be professionally installed and securely fenced in. They will be located out of sight on the south side of the sewer treatment plant. The panels have a 25 year warranty; the inverters (which change the power from DC to AC) are warranted for 10 years and the system will continue to provide power for some time beyond the 25 years. The town and the installer will have the capability to monitor the system's functions 24/7; the town will carry insurance, and will establish a self-funding maintenance account although this solid state solar installation will have no moving parts and therefore will require little maintenance. Also, the state will impose a $636 tax each year for the education fund. 

Payment Plan: Taking advantage of current low interest rates, the town will float a 20-year bond for $450,000 to pay for the panels and their installation. Unlike other bonds the town has used and successfully paid off, this bond will require no new taxes. The solar system will cover most of the town's GMP energy bill, and the cost of paying off the bond will be less than the energy bill. In other words, the credit received for self-generation of solar power will more than offset the bond payments. There is already money in the budget to cover the GMP bill if we do nothing and that money can instead be used to make the annual bond payment. A town vote on issuing the bond is scheduled for Aug. 26.

Common Questions:

• Why only 150Kw? A larger installation would breach a legal threshold and require the town to pursue of very costly Act 250 permit. We already have a permit to build the 150 Kw installation.

• Why GMP?: A solar installation can only apply to one power provider's territory. GMP serves Cavendish. Since Ludlow Electric serves Proctorsville, the installation in Cavendish cannot directly benefit any town facilities such as the school in Proctorsville. However, indirect benefits would accrue to the school from the reduced costs to the water and sewer facilities. Proctorsville residents will receive the same benefits as Cavendish residents. 

• What happens during a power outage? The system will be hooked to GMP transmission lines and will not function during a power outage. So if the grid goes down, we will be without power.

• What are the risks? It is impossible to predict changes to solar legislation or to solar markets. We also cannot predict changes in technology. We cannot foresee the effects of inflation or cost increases, although it is widely reported that electricity costs will rise. {E.g.Law now mandates that we will receive the 6 cents solar incentive for 10 years. We cannot know what the legislature might do to that amount or time span.) Of course, if part of the system fails there would be a loss of power and therefore a loss of solar credits, and there may be associated repair costs.

• Are other towns buying their own systems? Warren, VT and Waitsfield, VT have already floated bonds to do the same project, but we are among the leaders. The energy committee investigated third party ownership but found that the benefits of town ownership are substantially superior.

• What about degradation of the panels over time? Yes, panels lose their efficiency over time, however the loss is in the order of 0.75% per year. After 25 years the panels would still produce over 120 Kw of power.

The Benefits: For no additional cost the town will improve its infrastructure. Electricity for essential town services such as fire hydrants, water, sewer, transfer station, and town office will cost significantly less if the town moves forward with this plan. The solar installation will provide cost containment by protecting us against these price increases. After 20 years, when the bond is fully paid off, the town will receive electricity almost cost free. 

Please bring your concerns, queries and questions to a public energy forum on Tuesday, August 12th at 6:30 pm in the Town Offices. You can also talk to an Energy Committee member: Rich Svec, Peter LaBelle, Cheryl Liener, Mary Ormrod, Dan Sullivan and Karen Wilson. We look forward to hearing from you.



Cavendish Update - News & Events - 8/1/14

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1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

Flash Flooding: On Monday, July 28, Cavendish and the surrounding areas were hit with a very intense storm. While  Proctorsville Fire Department responded to a Cavendish residence that was struck by lighting, other than an electrical component, there was no damage to the home. Chester was hit by flash flooding causing road closures and damage to homes. PFD provided mutual aid to Chester, checking on residents in the flooded areas. Photos are posted on the Chester Telegraph website. 

Market Basket Open But Little Food: Workers at Claremont’s Market Basket don’t have to worry about returning to their jobs on Monday, they never stopped working. Paul Ritz Grocery Manager for the store says they rally during their time off.  Ritz estimated that there are about 40 employees outside rallying for the return of Arthur T including a customer and says they have received an outpouring of customer support.. “We truly believe Arthur T. Demoulas will get control of the company,” said Martin. Claremont’s Market Basket employees have been protesting the firing of Arthur T. Demoulas for weeks, along with most of the company’s 25,000 other employees at the 71 stores in three states.

VT Yankee Emergency Planning Changes Detailed: The last day of operation of Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant will be Dec. 29, 2014. Cavendish has been approached about providing shelter in the event an accident occurs during the decommissioning phase. Brattleboro Reformer 

2. PROCTORSVILLE CONCERTS CONTINUE: VOODOO ALIEN 
The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA) invites the Cavendish community and all of its neighbors to the Proctorsville Green on Route 131 for the next to last concert of this year’s Cavendish summer music series on Wednesday, August 13th at 6:00 p.m. to listen to the Voodoo Alien Blues Band.  This concert is sponsored by the Cavendish Recreation Department. The Rutland based all star rhythm and blues band is led by local blues legend Steve Audsley and appears regularly at a variety of Vermont venues. As always, the concerts are free and open to everyone. FMI: Robin at 226-7736 or Summer Concert Series  

3. THE VERMONT MOVIE PART 5: CERES' CHILDREN
The Cavendish Historical Society will show part five of the Vermont Movie: Ceres’ Children on Sunday, August 10th at 2 pm. Part Five takes a deeper look at some of Vermont’s cherished traditions: participatory democracy and the conservation ethic, from the ideas of George Perkins Marsh, one of America’s first environmentalists, to contemporary volunteer groups and activist movements. The film captures 21st century debates over natural resources, then circles back in time to show how these concerns originate in the ethics of farmers, who depended on the natural world for their survival. The disappearance of dairy farms has raised a tough question: how big is too big? How can Vermont survive in a world economy? Can Vermont be a model for small, local and self-sufficient farming? FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net

4. NEW FLOOR AT THE CAVENDISH LIBRARY
The Cavendish Fletcher Community Library will be closed the week of August 18 in order to replace the carpeting to a commercial grade flooring, which looks like wood.   The remodeling should be finished by Tuesday, August 26.  We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause.  You will still be able to access free WiFi outside of the building.

5. SUMMER CAMP AT CTES
The Two Rivers Supervisory Union and the Cavendish Recreation Department are excited to announce the opening of the Cavendish After School and Summer Rec Program. Beginning August 11th, Cavendish parents will have the ability to send their son or daughter to camp right in town. Sponsored by an after school grant from Afterschool Inc, the CDD, and the newly formed recreation department of Cavendish,  camp will operate from 8:30-4:00 pm until August 22nd.

Camp will follow a high energy schedule that includes academic enrichment, recreation, team sports, hiking, local field trips, and snack. Open to students going into 1st-7th grade, this is the first summer program held at CTES in recent history. We hope to meet the needs of working families by providing a quality program where kids are bound to have lots of fun and meet friends.  Residents of Cavendish will pay a weekly fee of $70, while outside residents can attend camp for $85. As a licensed child care program we accept child care subsidy from the state of Vermont, all qualifying families can then attend camp for free. We also have daily and drop in fees.

Registration is limited to the first 30 campers enrolled. Enrollment forms maybe picked and dropped off at the Cavendish town hall, the Ludlow Recreation Department, or by emailing camp Director Zoe Lirakis at zoe.lirakis@trsu.org. Camp registration will end on August 6th.

FMI: Camp Director Zoe Lirakis at (802)356-4339, or the Cavendish Recreation Director Terry O'Brien (802)738-3215.

6. CAVENDISH ENERGY COMMITTEE TO HOLD SOLAR FORUM
The Cavendish Town Energy Committee has proposed to the Cavendish Select Board that the town establish a solar facility to generate the electricity used by several town departments, and the Select Board has voted to ask the town if they will approve a bond issue to pay for the solar facility.  The Energy Committee will hold a public forum to discuss the plan on Tuesday, August 12th at 6:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held in the Cavendish Town Office meeting room.

The vote will occur on August 26th when Vermont voters hold primary elections.  Particulars of the plan were discussed at a recent Select Board meeting, and a special town meeting will be held on August 25th to further inform voters on the plan details.  However, many citizens have been asking questions, so the committee has decided to hold a less formal forum in addition to the town meeting to answer those questions.

The solar facility would consist of 624 solar panels on an unused parcel of land that is invisible to residents.  It will pay for itself with the electrical power it produces and will not be the cause for a tax increase.  It will provide cost containment for the town’s energy bills far into the future.  For more information on the time and place of the forum, please call the Cavendish Town Office at (802) 226-7291.

7. BRGN INITIATES BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPORT
Black River Good Neighbor Services is initiating a new program to support school children and is requesting donations for back to school needs.  Audrey Bridge, Executive Director, said: “Over the years we have noticed that back to school time places a huge financial burden on our clients with children. Back to school supply purchases further stress already tight monthly budgets.  When there are several children in a family, equipping them can seem impossible to families in need.”

Specific back to school needs vary with grade level and the school attended.  Probably the costliest general requirement is a backpack.  Families seeking back to school support can submit an application to BRGNS at 37B Main Street starting immediately.  Then, when the schools make known the requirements for each child, families can share those requirements with the staff at BRGNS.  BRGNS assists families in Ludlow, Cavendish, Mount Holly and Plymouth.

For a list of items to donate or for an application, please visit our website, or drop into our store at 37B Main Street, Ludlow.  For further information, please call (802) 228-3663. 

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