Following the North Haven Board of Selectmen's decision in early 2007 to purchase 20% of its electricity for public facilities from clean renewable energy sources by 2010, the Clean Energy Task Force was created. The town received a $5,000 grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund for becoming a Clean Energy Community. As a Clean Energy Community, the town has pledged to reduce its energy consumption by 20 percent and increase its use of renewable energy by 20 percent by 2018.
The objectives of the Clean Energy Task Force are:
- Educate and encourage Town Residents and Businesses to invest in Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency projects in order to save money and to help the Town to earn credits for Bright Ideas Grants from UI and other grants and benefits State.
- Help the Town of North Haven to create a Municipal Energy Plan (this has been done - we have an energy plan) and to advise the town leadership on efficiency projects and policy.
- To solicit grant proposals and select, oversee, and report on grant projects by community groups.
- To encourage efficient energy use by town officials, households, and businesses.
- Increase Task Force Membership and Participation.
Major Accomplishments:
- We conducted a multi-year Clean Energy Option sign-up campaign leading to a free solar array for the high school.
- We have sponsored over 8 community forums on climate change, energy efficiency, solar power and state resources.
- In 2014-15, we sponsored a highly successful Home Energy Solutions (HES) energy assessment promotion campaign in conjunction with Town government and vendors. We presented a $12,725 check to S.A.R.A.H.
- We conducted 2 Solarize North Haven Campaigns in conjunction with SolarizeCT to encourage residents to install residential solar arrays.
- Our cumulative work earned the Town of North Haven $30,000 in EnergizeCT Bright Idea grants which we have used to offer 300 free HES home energy assessments to North Haven residents in 2017.
- The Town was awarded a Clean Communities grant from the CT Green Bank which has been used to install an Electric Vehicle charger in the Recreation Department parking lot.
- For several years, our Task Force has collaborated with Project Green, a student environmental group at NH High School, offering support and advice for student projects. We worked with the CT DEEP and Project Green students on an anti-idling campaign to encourage North Haven residents to obey the state anti-idling law – to save energy and improve air quality.
- In June 2017, the North Haven Clean Energy Task Force won a Green Circle Award from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for its work. For more information about this go to: http://m.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20170619/PRINTEDITION/306159948/1002?utm_source=enews&utm_medium=HBJToday&utm_campaign=Monday
- The Task Force has developed a "speakers bureau" PowerPoint presentation on climate change, the many successes of the Task Force and Town governments, and what you can do to invest in energy efficiency and clean energy alternatives.
- In 2020-21, the Task Force sponsored a new HES energy assessment campaign, in conjunction with EnergizeCT and two vendors. The vendors contributed $25 to the North Haven Food Pantry for each assessment completed. Around 250 town residents participated, and we raised over $6,000 for the food pantry.
- In November 2021, our Task Force, in conjunction with the 1st Selectman’s office, sponsored a Climate Change forum, which was taped by North Haven TV. Speakers from Yale and our task force presented information on environmental and public health impacts to our region and state, as well as useful information about what residents can do to reduce their fossil fuel use. Click here to view the video .
Other Town accomplishments supported by the Task Force include:
- The municipal landfill solar array that is providing .9 megawatts of power to the water treatment plant.
- The Town of North Haven worked with United Illuminating and Johnson Controls for $6 million of town wide energy improvements. The Town will repay the cost for the work over the next 18 years using that money saved by the upgrades. North Haven is one of the first municipalities in the state to enter into such a performance contract as the one with Johnson Controls.
- Replacement of all the bulbs in its 3,700 streetlights with LED bulbs, saving the Town about $200,000 per year.
- Installation of a gas-fired, co-generation system to the town pool. It produces electricity and uses the waste heat to heat the pool and showers.
The present members of the North Haven Clean Energy Task Force are:
- Kenny Foscue, Chairperson
- Hugh Davis
- Naedine Hazell
- Andy Mayshar
- Jim Stenqvist
- Georgann Witte
- Jason Kyle
- Joe DeNicola
- Rip Dauster
- Krista Polinsky
- Taylor Binnington
NOTE: We are always looking for more members! Contact Kenny Foscue at kfosc@snet.net
Clean Energy/Energy Conservation Resources and Links:
Home Energy Resource Information:
Home Efficiency Resource Sheet
PACE (Peoples Action for Clean Energy):
https://www.pacecleanenergy.org/
Energize Connecticut
http://energizect.com
CT Green Bank:
https://www.ctgreenbank.com/
US EPA Clean Energy Site:
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/
The Institute for Sustainable Energy – Eastern CT State University:
http://www1.easternct.edu/sustainenergy/
Sustainable CT:
https://sustainablect.org/
US Department of Energy Site:
https://www.energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-energy
Department of Energy Tips:
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/downloads/energy-saver-guide
Energy Planet Renewable Energy Directory:
http://www.energyplanet.info/
Governor’s Council on Climate Change:
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Climate-Change/GC3/Governors-Council-on-Climate-Change
Acadia Center:
https://acadiacenter.org/
Connecticut Statewide Energy Efficiency Dashboard
https://ctenergydashboard.com/Login.aspx
