By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
No, it’s not about that Energizer Bunny, but it is about keeping the energy flowing by using alternative energy sources as a small grass roots effort begins to move forward promoting alternative energy for Raton.
Geoff Peterson began the meeting at the Center for Sustainability by telling the crowd of about 20 people that this is an effort that will take the entire community not simply something the Center for Sustainability can do by itself. He noted that the contract Raton Public Service has with Twin Eagle, which is in the process of being sold to Excel Energy, will expire in five years. Over the next five years the RPS board will have to seek a new contract, one he hopes will not be as restrictive as the current one.
The grass roots effort is to encourage RPS to seek an agreement that will allow RPS to generate more of their own power and to use alternative energy sources, such as residents selling power from their own solar systems as well as invest in a community solar farm.
Pat Walsh showed a video clip from an upcoming Nova episode that explains some of the issues of greenhouse gas production. She then explained to the crowd about some of the recent weather events such as the 2015 blizzard on I-40 that prevented trucks from delivering product to Raton. As a result, Super Save ran out of eggs during that event. In 2017 another snow event left Raton in the dark for over eight hours. She noted that we are all effected by these more common extreme weather events and as a community need to be ready for these events with a way to power our community.
Over a 100 years ago scientist discovered how CO2 kept the earth warm by holding in the heat from the sun. Over time science has learned that burning fossil fuels has increased CO2 in the atmosphere, thus increasing average temperatures and creating global weirding, and more extreme weather events.
David Wentling told the crowd that Maryland has invested heavily in conservation and renewable energy. Maryland has found that it is more cost effective to invest in conservation than building new power plants. Some of the conservation efforts they work on includes making a house more energy efficient by plugging the holes that let air flow through a house and rob it of its heating or cooling.
Wentling went on to inform the crowd that it costs about $3.50 a watt for an individual solar system versus $1.50 a watt for a commercial solar installation. He noted that makes its more economical to invest in solar on a community level than for individuals.
“Energized’s mission is to empower our community to create a more resilient future.” The goals of the effort are to “enhance our community’s ability to independently produce its own energy, food, water etc. and enhance our community’s climate resilience through emergency preparedness for extreme weather events.” The objective of the movement is to “promote mission-based projects such as community solar farms, community gardens, public transportation, etc.”
Peterson also encouraged residents to attend the RPS meeting on February 27, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. where a presentation on solar is on the agenda. A second meeting of the Energize group is scheduled for 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday March 9, 2019.
Associated articles on KRTNRadio.com
http://krtnradio.com/2017/06/01/from-point-a-to-point-raton-how-rps-gets-its-power/
http://krtnradio.com/2017/06/08/distribution-generation-and-transmission-the-rps-way/
http://krtnradio.com/2017/06/22/twin-eagle-rps-power-provider-part-4-of-4/
http://krtnradio.com/2015/09/09/rps-seeks-amendment-to-net-metering-tariff/
