Town planning for energy conservation

Although the poll covers communities from Windsor to Yarmouth and up the South Shore to Liverpool, we asked town hall here in Digby what the town is doing.

“Administratively, energy conservation is something we’re always conscious of,” notes town clerk Tom Ossinger. “We try to do everything we can.”

Ossinger said that the town’s major energy expenses are the water treatment plant, the pumping stations, and fuel for the town vehicles.

“We’ve talked about formulating a plan,” he said, “and within the next year and a half, we will be required to create a long-term sustainability plan.”

That requirement relates to the federal government’s gas tax agreement with the provinces, territories and First Nations.

Between 2005 and 2010, more than $145 million will be transferred to the province Nova through the federal gas tax fund. That money, in turn, is funneled to the municipalities, but there are conditions attached. In order to qualify for the gas tax transfer come 2010, municipalities must have community sustainability plans in place.