Questions to address: How to meet our community’s energy needs in an efficient, affordable, sustainable and reliable way, while managing greenhouse gas emissions and air quality.
EOS
Public Works Dept.
Tantramar Planning
MTA
NB Power
Fundy Solar
MTA SAC
No fossil fuels used
100% alternative energy creation
High density development
More stringent building code
LEED buildings are the norm
Net metering widely used by community members
Community power generation as a means for municipal revenue generation (embedded generation)
Residential heating - natural gas, oil, gasoline, propane, electricity, wood.
Electricity generated mostly from coal and/or nuclear.
High dependency on vehicle use.
Minimal alternatives to fossil fuels at the moment (except for nuclear).
Point LePreau refurbishment is costing taxpayers $1 million/day – imagine putting that money towards renewable systems?
There is information available about wind, solar, etc. – we need to use the data to make good decisions
We have a high dependency upon others doing things for us (roads, garbage collection, energy provision, etc.)
Embodied energy in alternative systems too (construction of turbines, shipping, construction)
Lifestyles are centred around convenience
Belief that the Municipality should take the lead
New Municipal plan includes densification strategies – these need to be encouraged
Short-term:
Ongoing community education for energy conservation measures
Town of Sackville to join the Alliance for Community
Energy
Assess LED street lighting options through NBPower pilot projects (Dieppe, Fredericton)
Amend Building by-law to include minimum R value standards for insulation
Undertake energy use analysis on municipal buildings
Mid-term actions:
Work with other NB municipalities to lobby NB government to increase embedded power generation rates based on the type of renewable energy to something reasonable to encourage communities to move forward with local initiatives
Undertake research on community energy generation options, develop business case
Conduct research into policies to encourage renewable energy options on all buildings in Sackville (in serviced and non-serviced areas)
Long-term actions:
Amend building by-law to require LEED certified construction on all municipal and industrial buildings
Lobby for more stringent energy efficiency measures in provincial building code.