Friday, February 22, 2013
The future of the East Bay Energy Consortium - and that of the Tiverton Industrial Park - remain uncertain four years after EBEC formed to develop a for-profit wind farm on the parcel.
The Tiverton Industrial Park is caught in a battle between the East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC) and private developers and Tiverton taxpayers are losing out. EBEC, a regional partnership between nine East Bay communities, formed four years ago to explore ways to make money off of wind energy through net metering. Targeting the Tiverton Industrial Park as the ideal location for a venture, EBEC's idea for the for-profit wind farm project might be holding back the park's development rather than providing opportunity. According to The Hummel Report, EBEC was started with about $400,000 of seed money from the state Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and its wind farm project would have made millions through net metering. Net metering …
Friday, October 19, 2012
The Town Council voted 3-1 to withdraw from the group committed to exploring renewable energy.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, October 19, 2012
Bristol has pulled out of the East Bay Energy Consortium, voting 3-1 at the Oct. 10 Town Council meeting to back away from renewable energy group, reports eastbayri.com. Nine communities began the consortium in 2009 to explore the feasibility of combining resources across the East Bay munisipalities to invest in renewable energy. The group got a boost earlier in the year when the state Senate approved it as a non-profit governmental entity, but the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee determined it should be "held for further study," which essentially killed the bill. Bristol Councilor Halsey Herreshoff proposed withdrawing from the group, gaining support from Councilors David Barboza and Antonio Teixeira. Councilor Mary …
Friday, July 20, 2012
At its July 16 meeting, EBEC refocused its push to create a renewable energy engine in the Tiverton Industrial Park, reports EcoRI News.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, July 20, 2012
The East Bay Engery Consortium will continue its push for a renewable energy project at the Tiverton Industrial Park, though conversations will likely stall until after the November elections, according to reports from EcoRI News. At the consortium's July 16 meeting members discussed refocusing plans around new state zoning guidelines for wind turbines, which includes cutting the number of turbines from 10 down to 5 and installing solar arrays in the 177-acre industrial park. EBEC planners reportedly said the changes would still allow for a profitable project. Thomas Moses, legal counsel to the consortium, said the regional municipal collaborative was defeated this spring because of an outcry from local Tea Party activists and a letter …
Friday, June 15, 2012
Although the EBEC bill did not pass the House last week, its leaders be would like to see it reintroduced this winter.
In 2009, the East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC) was founded in order to explore the feasibility of combining resources across the nine East Bay municipal lines to invest in renewable energy sources. A bill to establish the group as a non-profit governmental entity, passed the Senate, but last week it was held before it got to the House. The House Environment and Natural Resources Committee determined it should be "held for further study," which essentially, killed the bill. “It was a bit of a disappointment that it didn’t come out of the committee to be heard on the floor,” said Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, chairwoman of the EBEC Board. Napolitano also serves as a City Council member for Newport. The board will meet within a month to determine …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
New legislation to create the quasi-public East Bay Energy Consortium needs some clarification, including an explanation of proposed eminent domain power and issuing of bonds.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC), made up of the nine East Bay communities, has submitted a bill to the Legislature to enable the creation of a quasi-public agency. New legislation creates a need to clarify issues and to inform the public. Background: EBEC was formed in late 2009 to use renewable energy and energy efficiencies to save taxpayer money by reducing the amount of energy our municipalities pay for. (Schools, streetlights, water treatment, and municipal buildings require a lot of energy.) Each city and town joined through council resolution and a cash contribution or in-kind payment, and each city and town council appointed one representative and alternates to attend meetings and report back to the municipality. Entity: …
Bill Carson
10:03 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
The taxpayers will be paying again : EXECUTIVE SESSION PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING February 25, 2013 RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (5) Wind Turbine – discussions or consideration related to possible disposition of publicly held property wherein advanced public information would be detrimental to the interest of the public, and RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (7) Wind Turbine – possible investment of public funds where … more ›