Energy Task Force Hosts Workshop With Common Council

Common Council member Ron Klattenberg sees energy efficiency as a way for the city to achieve real savings while moving toward green principles.

"You ask basic questions in this city like, 'How much electricity do we use, and why do we use more in some month's than others,' and you can't get an answer," Klattenberg says.  "You can't get your hands around the problem because no one has taken the responsibility.  We need to make a plan, and you can make a plan without collecting and analyzing the data."

On Wednesday night, Klattenberg and his energy task force team, will host a workshop with Middletown's Common Council to detail the work his team has done, and the conclusion's they've reached.

"We were lucky enough to have West Hartford allow us to use their plan as a model," Klattenberg said.  "It's a great plan, and very comprehensive.  The effort they put into it, and the support they got is impressive.  We hope to find that kind of support here."

The workshop, which begins at 7 PM in Council chambers, will feature presentations by Klattenberg, as well as segments by Jennifer Weymouth, who will talk about creating a culture of conservation in Middletown, John Hall who will address the issue of vehicles and their cost and effect on the environment, and Peter Staye, the Associate Director of Utilities at Wesleyan, who will talk about the economic impact of conservation and energy efficiency.

"There are so many grants out there right now to pay for these kinds of studies," Klattenberg said.  "Energy efficiciency, fuel efficiency, conservation.  These kinds of studies can be funded completely by stimulus money that's out there right now."

"My ideal plan is to have an energy efficiency manager working in the city to be sure that we are getting the greatest efficiency," Klattenberg said.

As a workshop, the public is invited to attend the meeting, but public comment will not be solicited, or accepted.

Klattenberg hopes to have the reported ratified by the Common Council at its next meeting.