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Coordinated Community Planning
Many economic, environmental, and social issues that face Cape Cod, Marthas Vineyard, and Nantucket influence or are influenced by energy supply and use (see Sample Connections). Because Cape & Islands residents, visitors, agencies, organizations, businesses, and communities rely on energy, they all have a stake in how these issues are addressed: Everyone is an energy stakeholder. To address economic development, cost of living, air quality, water pollution, sprawl, public health, climate change, affordable housing, and other energy-related challenges, local stakeholders need to be exploring the tradeoffs among energy supply and use options in an inclusive, organized, comprehensive, and transparent way. The "Transitioning from the Energy Present to the Energy Future Initiative" was launched by participants in the Cape & Islands Renewable Energy Collaborative (CIREC) to engage energy stakeholders in coordinated and collaborative planning activities. Click on the links below for more information: Objectives & Activities The overarching goal of the "Managing the Energy Transition" initiative is to maximize the local benefits and minimize the adverse impacts associated with energy supply and use in the Cape & Islands region. Community planning objectives are listed below: 1. Maximize participation by and input from the public and other stakeholder groups 2. Develop and communicate visions of the energy future 3. Analyze and communicate information about the relations between current energy supply and use practices and diverse regional and local issues 4. Establish a base of facts, opinions, and goals relating to
the technology, policy, and resource development options associated with
a sustainable energy future 5. Develop an energy technology and resource development strategy and create and implement a "Renewable Energy Action Plan" Under the umbrella of CIREC, these broad community planning objectives are supported and complemented by a range of targeted activities addressing the following topics:
Coordinated Planning Progress
About 30 people agreed to serve on the committee, including representatives from organizations and agencies with specific interest in energy or with strong recognition of energy's importance to everyday life and this region's future (see Initial SES List). As a first task, SES committee members were asked to review and provide comment on this website as a tool for encouraging coordinated planning and informed decision-making throughout the region. Many individuals offered encouragement and provided data and information resources. A representative of the Cape Wildlife Center, for example, contributed factual information on the interactions between wind turbines and wildlife, supporting creation of a "Wind Energy" page highlighting the possible environmental tradeoffs associated with the development of regionally abundant wind energy resources. Comments from Cape Light Compact staff and officials were the most important ones received, in that among the many helpful clarifications were some questions about the "true costs" of present-day energy supply and use options (see Cape Light Compact comments). Under a follow-on grant from MTC to CIREC, SES committee members and other individuals and organizations contributed to the initiation of a "Beyond Cape Wind" community planning process (see box above for documents relating to this process). The process, managed through CIREC, was developed in early 2005 with technical assistance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-U.S. Geological Survey Science Impact Collaborative (MUSIC). It began when Cape & Islands energy stakeholders were asked to complete an online "Energy Present/Energy Future" survey and provide thoughts on what issues should be addressed and what goals should be pursued through coordinated planning. Responses from energy, environmental, consumer, economic development, business, agency, other constituencies, and the general public were applied to develop an initial modela systems representationillustrating how electricity and fuels are supplied to, purchased by, and used by consumers on Cape Cod, Marthas Vineyard, and Nantucket (survey results/model). In addition, the model displayed the interconnections among energy systems and diverse economic, environmental, and social issues. Once further developed, it will allow users to evaluate possible options for managing these interconnections through technology, policy, and market interventions. Survey responses, facilitated meetings, and follow-on surveys also were employed to identify the 10 highest-priority true cost considerations to be addressed by transitioning away from present-day energy supply and use practices: 1. Effects of Fossil Fuel Combustion on Air Quality & Public Health To promote discussion of solutions, the "Shaping Cape Cod's Energy Future" conference was organized by CIREC participants in September 2005 under funding from Cape Cod Economic Development Council. In early 2006, at the urging of CIREC participants, the Cape Cod Commission convened stakeholders to discuss expanded roles for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emissions reduction in Barnstable County's Regional Policy Plan. In May 2006, an ocean energy brainstorming session was conducted to review issues and options relating to community-based siting and development of large-scale offshore wind, tidal, and wave energy projects. In 2006-07, CIREC activities being pursued under a new MTC grant, in-kind support, and additional funding sources include a survey of candidates for regional, state, and federal office; outreach to local decision-makers; a series of regional forums; and other strategic planning activities geared toward development of a Cape & Islands Renewable Energy Action Plan. This website is being used to collect and organize information, knowledge, and tools and to communicate findings. Follow-on support is being sought for outreach, analysis, synthesis, and reporting activities. For more information contact
Last updated 01.07.07 |
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