Civic
Participation Guide
|
2006
Candidate Survey & Voter's Guide
|
| How
do candidates for local, regional, and state office feel about
burning energy issues? Click here
for results from the "Voting Energy" survey. |
Cape
& Islands residents and visitors make important decisions about
energy supply and use at home, at the dealer, at work, and in other
settings. However, it is the decisions made by town, county, state,
and federal officials that will largely determine how rapidly local
communities transition to a sustainable energy future.
You
can inform and influence these decisions. The voting booth, town
meeting, public hearings, newspapers, other forums, and direct communications
with elected and appointed officials and additional government personnel
all provide opportunities for voicing opinions about energy issues.
Civic
participation is easy: Register to vote. Research the issues. Follow
the news. Ask questions. Write letters. Make phone calls. Support
advocacy groups. Attend council and agency hearings. Participate
in town meeting. Know the candidates. Vote. Citizens that don’t
participate forgo opportunities to make a difference in energy-related
decision-making processes. Click
on the links below for information designed to facilitate civic
participation:
Federal
Representatives & Agencies
Those who don't have the ability to influence what goes on behind
closed doors in Washington still have the opportunity to vote on
who lives in the White House and, thus, to determine who's "in
the room" when critical energy policy decisions are made. It's
also possible to offer criticism or plaudits on energy issues such
as air and water quality standards, dependence on foreign oil, development
of offshore energy sources, research and development priorities,
fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, the war in Iraq, and climate
change science and policy. Delivering comments to the President
may not have any practical effect, but it is a right not to be ignored
(and it may prove therapeutic).
Those
who represent the interests of local communities in the U.S. Congress
are a little more approachable—if you write to these officials
or call their offices, your opinions on specific issues will be
registered and may even be heard. (Comments delivered by email or
fax will arrive much faster, as regular mail is delayed greatly
due to security concerns.) Senators and congressmen also periodically
appear at events in local communities, which may give you an opportunity
for a direct exchange of ideas.
In
general, the executive and legislative branches establish overarching
principles and policies relating to energy supply and use, but it
is largely up to federal agencies to interpret and implement them.
Numerous agencies play important roles. Several are highlighted
below.
Use
the links below to learn more about energy-related beliefs, policies,
and programs at the federal level. Use the contact information to
register your opinions.
|
Pres.
George W. Bush (R) - website
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.456.1111 (comments)
Phone: 202.456.1414 (switchboard)
Fax: 202.546.2883
Email: comments@whitehouse.gov
|
Sen.
John F. Kerry (D) - website
304 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.2742
Fax: 202.224.8525
Email
form
Local
Office
222 Milliken Place
Suite 312
Fall River, MA 02721
Phone: 508.677.0522
Fax: 508.677.0275
|
|
Sen.
Edward M. Kennedy (D) - website
315 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.4543
Fax: 202.224.2417
Email
form (visit site, locate "Contact" link)
State
Office
Room 2400
JFK Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203
Phone: 617.565.3170
|
Rep.
William D. Delahunt (D) - website
2454 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.3111
Fax: 202.225.5658
Email: william.delahunt@mail.house.gov
Cape
& Islands Office
146 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: 508.771.0666 / 800.870.2626
Fax: 508.790.1959
|
Key
Federal Agencies
Department
of Energy
Department
of Homeland Security
Department
of Interior
Department
of State
Environmental
Protection Agency
National
Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
State
Officials & Agencies
The individual who currently holds the highest office in the state
is a short-timer, with hopes of moving on to bigger and better things
at the end of 2006. At this point, civic participation might best
be directed toward learning the energy-related positions of the
candidates in the gubernatorial campaign.
State
senators and representatives are in office to serve the interests
of their constituents, at least in theory. They can't serve your
interests if you don't express them via phone, fax, email, or mail.
Several state representatives have regular office hours withing
their districts, while all of these officials appear at events in
local communities, creating opportunities for personal interaction.
Call their offices to find out when they might be available.
A few
key state agencies involved in energy-related decision-making also
are highlighted below.
Use
the links below to learn more about energy-related beliefs, policies,
and programs at the state level. Use the contact information to
register your opinions.
Gov.
Deval Patrick (D) - website
State House
Room 360
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.725.4005
Fax: 617.727.9725
|
|
Sen.
Robert O'Leary (D), Cape & Islands District -
website
Room 416A
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.722.1570
Fax: 617.722.1271
Email: Robert.O'Leary@state.ma.us
District
Office
Phone: 508.775.0162
|
Sen.
Therese Murray (D), Plymouth & Upper Cape District
- website
Room 212
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.722.1330
Fax: 617.722.1072
Email: Therese.Murray@state.ma.us
District
Office
Building 3, Room 319
Cordage Park
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: 508.746.9332
|
|
Rep.
Demetrius Atsalis, (D), 2nd Barnstable District -
website
Room 26
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.722.2080
Email: Rep.DemetriusAtsalis@hou.state.ma.us
|
Rep.
Cleon Turner (D), lst Barnstable District - website
State House
Room 540
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.722.2090
Email: Rep.CleonTurner@hou.state.ma.us |
|
Rep.
Sarah Peake (D), 4th Barnstable District - website
|
Rep.
Matthew C. Patrick (D), 3rd Barnstable District -
website
Room 540
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.722.2090
Fax: 617.722.2848
Email: Rep.MatthewPatrick@hou.state.ma.us
District
Office
24 Collins Road
Box 3252
Falmouth, MA 02536
Phone: 508.540.6308
Email: RepMattP@Cape.com
|
|
Rep.
Jeffrey D. Perry (R), 5th Barnstable District - website
Room 136
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.722.2396
Fax: 617.722.2819
Email: Rep.JeffreyPerry@hou.state.ma.us
District
Office
93 Route 6A
Box 1435
Sandwich, MA 02563
Phone: 508.888.2158
Fax: 508.888.2158
|
Rep.
Eric Turkington (D), Barnstable, Nantucket &
Dukes District - website
Room 195
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: 617.722.2015
Fax: 617.722.2160
Email: Rep.EricTurkington@hou.state.ma.us
District
Office
49 Locust Street
Falmouth, MA 02540
Phone: 508.540.4854
Fax: 508.548.0020
|
Key
State Agencies (information to come)
Executive
Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
Department
of Public Utilities
Division
of Energy Resources
Department
of Environmental Protection
Massachusetts
Technology Collaborative
Barnstable
County Officials & Agencies
(more information to come)
County
Commissioners - website
-
William Doherty
- Lance
Lambros, Chair
-
Mary LeClair
Assembly
of Delegates - website
- Thomas
Bernardo, Chatham, Speaker
- George
D. Bryant, Provincetown
- Joseph
Carrara, Bourne
- Dennis
Fonseca, Sandwich
- Raymond
C. Gottwald, Harwich
- John
Hodgkinson, Orleans
- Marsha
King, Mashpee
- Thomas
Lynch, Barnstable
- John
Ohman, Dennis
- Fred
Fenlon, Eastham
- Roger
L. Putnam, Wellfleet
- Fred
Schilpp, Truro
- Anthony
F. Scalese, Brewster
- Charlotte
Striebel, Yarmouth
- Julia
C. Taylor, Falmouth
Cape
Cod Commission - website
The Commission is Barnstable County's regional land-use
planning and regulatory agency. It makes energy-related decisions
through creation and implementation of the Cape Cod Regional Policy
Plan, participation on transportation planning committees, review
of developments of regional impact, and provision of technical services
to local communities:
- Regional
Policy Plan (RPP): The RPP sets out goals, policies, and performance
standards relating to resource protection, land use, and development/redevelopment
activities within Barnstable County. At present, the Commission
is updating the 2002 version of the RPP; click here
for general information on the RPP and the updating process. Attendees
at a February 2006 stakeholder workshop, including Commission
staff, concluded that the current RPP's "Energy" element
requires a comprehensive rewrite. Click here
for an analysis of energy-related policy and planning issues associated
with the RPP updating process.
- Transportation
Planning: The Commission coordinates transportation planning
activities with federal, state, regional, and local agencies.
Click here
to visit the website maintained by the Commission's transportation
program.
- Developments
of Regional Impact (DRIs): The Commission reviews DRIs (projects
exceeding 10,000 sq ft or meeting other criteria) for consistency
with the RPP and its minimum performance standards. The current
RPP's standards largely do not account for the effects of energy
supply and use practices on resource protection—or the benefits
of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
- Technical
Services: Most energy-related planning services address transportation
planning and traffic management. Recently, the Commission coordinated
the creation of a model bylaw for regulation of commercial-scale,
land-based wind turbines.
The
Commission's decisions are made by staff and by a board of appointed
officials, including one from each town on Cape Cod. No staff member
is formally designated as an "energy lead," but the Commission
has a substantial transportation department, as well as other departments
that address issues such as water quality, air quality, climate
change, affordable housing, and economic development. You can call
or write staff if you have specific questions about the Commission's
planning and regulatory activities and technical services. For staff
areas of responsibility and contact information, click here.
If
you would like to voice opinions on energy-related issues, your
town's representative to the Commission is answerable directly to
you; contact your representative by calling your town's offices.
You can also attend Commission meetings; click here
for schedule information.
| Cape
Cod Commission - Appointed Representatives |
Barnstable:
David Ansel
Bourne: Carol Tinkham
Brewster: Elizabeth Taylor
Chatham: Catherine Frazer
Dennis: Brad Crowell
Eastham: Vicky Anderson
Falmouth: Jay Zavala
Harwich: Leo Cakounes
Mashpee: Ernest Virgilio
Orleans: Frank H. Hogan
|
Provincetown:
Roslyn Garfield
Sandwich: Bob Jones
Truro: Susan Kadar
Wellfleet: Alan Platt
Yarmouth: William Marasco
Barnstable County: William Doherty
Minority Representative: John Harris
Native American Representative: Mark Harding
Governor's Appointee: Herbert Olsen |
Cape
Cod Economic Development Council (EDC) - website
The EDC administers a portion of the revenues generated through
the sale of Cape & Islands license plates, awarding grants to
support economic development within Barnstable County. In recent
years, it has provided funding to support renewable energy education
and workforce training activities, as well as incipient efforts
to transform local markets on behalf of green building and clean
energy technologies. It was lead sponsor of the "Shaping
Cape Cod's Energy Future" Conference held in September
2005, and it has acknowledged the need for collaborative follow-on
efforts to develop a regional energy strategy. The EDC consists
of a board of appointed community leaders staffed by a full-time
administrator. Visit the EDC's website
for more information.
Cape
Light Compact:
see information below
Department
of Health & the Environment - website
The Department provides public and environmental health services
to local communities. Its objectives are to protect the public from
air and water pollution, including a variety of problems relating
to energy.
Dukes
County Officials & Agencies
(information to come)
County
Commissioners
Cape
Light Compact:
see information below
Martha's
Vineyard Commission - website
Nantucket
County Officials & Agencies
(information to come)
County
Commissioners/Town Selectmen
Nantucket
Economic Development & Planning Commission
Regional/Local
Decision-Makers: Cape Light Compact -
website
The Compact is an intergovernmental agency formed to represent
the interests of local electricity consumers. It bands together
residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal consumers on
Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Each town, as well as Barnstable
County and Dukes County, is represented on the Compact Governing
Board by an appointed official. The Governing Board and the Compact's
staff make policy and program decisions relating to consumer aggregation,
energy efficiency, power supply purchasing, renewable energy development,
energy education, and other topics.
Currently,
the Compact affects your electricity bill in two ways:
-
Efficiency: Each month, a very small portion of your bill
flows to the Compact to support local energy efficiency programs
(the energy conservation tariff itemized on p. 1 of your bill).
You can recoup this fee many times over by securing an energy
audit, following through on its recommendations, and taking advantage
of rebates and other incentives for increasing efficiency.
- Power
Supply: Each month, more than 50% of your bill—the power
supply charges itemized on p. 2—is attributable to a deal
negotiated between Compact officials and a competitive supplier,
ConEdison Solutions. Right now, you can get the best deal on "boutique
green" products in the state from the Compact. (For information
on current supply options, visit the Tips
for Choosing a Power Supplier page.) For
the future, the Compact—or a complementary organization,
such as a locally controlled energy cooperative—represents
the entity with the greatest potential for ensuring that local
consumers gain maximum benefit from renewable energy produced
in the Cape & Islands region.
You
can call or write staff if you have specific questions about the
Compact's operations, programs, and products and services. If you
would like to voice opinions on electricity-related issues, your
town's Governing Board representative is answerable directly to
you; you can reach your representative via the email address below
or by calling your town's offices. You can also attend Governing
Board meetings, generally held on the second Wednesday of each month.
Each meeting begins with a public comment period, giving you the
opportunity to address the entire Governing Board.
Staff
Maggie Downey (administration and power supply procurement),
mags@cape.com, 508.375.6636
Kevin Galligan (efficiency program management), kfg@cape.com,
508.375.6828
Joe Soares (power supply planning), jas@cape.com,
508.375.6623
John Burns (commercial/industrial efficiency), burnsje@cape.com,
508.375.6829
Margaret Song (residential efficiency), msong@cape.com,
508.375.6843
Deb Fitton (education), dfitton@capelightcompact.org,
508.375.6703
Representatives/Governing
Board Members
Aquinnah: Michael
Hebert
Barnstable: Audrey
Loughnane; Bud
Breault (alternate)
Bourne: Bob Schofield
Brewster: John
Cunningham; Deane
Keuch (alternate)
Chatham: vacant
Chilmark: Timothy
Carroll
Dennis: Bob
Mahoney
Eastham: Fred
Fenlon
Edgartown: Kitt
Johnson
Falmouth: Bob
Bigelow; Megan
Amsler (alternate)
Harwich: Barry
Worth; Larry Cole
(alternate)
Mashpee: Arnold
Wallenstein
Oak Bluffs: Alice
Butler
Orleans: Dick
Philbrick; John
Hodgkinson (alternate)
Provincetown: Jo
Lynne Hohl
Sandwich: Bob
Jones
Tisbury: Peter
Cabana
Truro: Bill Worthington; Donna
O’Brien (alternate)
Wellfleet: Olga
Kahn
West Tisbury: Shelton
Bank
Yarmouth: Charlotte
Striebel; Jack
Howard (alternate)
Barnstable County: Bill
Doherty
Dukes County: Chris Knowles
Local
Officials & Agencies
Information on energy-related
decision-making processes in individual Cape & Islands communities
ultimately will be available via the Community
Snapshots page. For now, use the links below to visit your town's
homepage, to see if it has an energy committee, and to figure out
to whom you should direct your opinions on energy issues. To
see what your town is doing to harness wind resources within its
borders, visit the Community Wind
page.
Updated
06.27.06
