Good-looking energy options in the air

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

It’s a “harrowing” path to becoming a model energy community, but Berwick appears willing to stick with it.

Councillors listened July 10 as AMG consultant Jim Retallack gave an update on a multi-pronged approach to “Berwick’s energy future.”

He recapped the June 16 energy fair, where the town started its 12,000 compact fluorescent lightbulb giveaway and showcased green-minded energy, vendors and programs. About 1,000 people visited the event.

The town and its electric utility hosted the fair, with a budget of $18,000. The municipal share - $2,000 plus $3,000 in kind - was bolstered by funds from the Municipality of Kings, Conserve Nova Scotia and the federal Green Municipal Fund.

The fair was designed to put Berwick’s name on the map: the town is working on a sustainability plan to access gas tax funds, but also wants more funding from a myriad of partners to enhance Berwick Electric, design and build a new, green fire hall and recreation facility; renovate the town hall and investigate new energy: geothermal, wind and anaerobic digestion.

“Things are happening, but we need to manage this,” Retallack said. “Berwick’s energy future as the greenest and cheapest energy in Nova Scotia is entirely possible.

“None of these studies is just for study - they’re all focused on action, and every project targets a financial payback.”

For example, early work to green the new fire hall’s building plans cost $12,000, but the estimate is for $190,000 in energy savings over the first 10 or 12 years of its operations.

A study to design a thermal utility to harness ice-making energy from the proposed Apple Dome will cost $25,000, but the town’s share is zero: the GMF and Conserve N.S. will cover the cost.

There’s a proposed $45,000 study on anaerobic digestion - breaking down agricultural and organic waste to capture and burn methane gas. If a $5 million pilot went ahead, there’s the potential to harness 1.5 megawatts - worth $700,000 and enough to meet close to 30 per cent of Berwick’s residential demand. The town’s share of the initial study: nothing.

Energy efficient renovations to the told town hall are estimated at $15,000. Berwick would kick in half if the GMF comes on board.

In total, studying Berwick’s energy future comes in at $115,000; Berwick’s actual costs are just $19,500, plus $3,000 in-kind.

The risk, Retallack said, is in the timing.

The town applied to the GMF for permission to apply for formal consideration. It won’t hear back on any of the potential funding until December.

“The reaction from GMF has been positive, but a small risk is not zero risk,” Retallack said.

If the GMF approves all the projects, everyone’s happy. If it turns Berwick down, studies on the thermal utility and anaerobic digestion won’t be fully detailed and town hall renovations won’t happen in 2008. Retallack’s company would also be out $10,000.

Berwick chief administrative officer Bob Ashley commended Retallack for following a “harrowing” path, “dancing and juggling” with multiple stakeholders, all with their own criteria.

“We’ll take what we can while these funding partners are ready to step up to the plate,” Ashley said. “Will the leaders of Berwick do so, too? We have to pay heed to the cautions it won’t work, but it doesn’t mean we don’t try.

“We have the potential in this small town to be not just regional leaders, but national leaders.”

Councillor Mike Trinacty said Retallack’s “worst-case scenario doesn’t look too bad.

“I’ve seen a lot worse.”

He urged the town to get its resources on town, fire hall and Apple Dome projects together, because timing is becoming a major issue if all the energy projects are to be included.

Deputy Mayor Beth Easson said, if funding doesn’t come in, she would almost rather see the anaerobic digestion work left while town hall renovations go ahead.

“The town hall is our emergency centre. It’s an expensive job, but there are some major problems that have to be fixed.”

Council gave Retallack the go-ahead to continue co-ordinating projects and funding applications.