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Town approves library weatherization; selectmen create renewable-energy reserve fund
Summary
Voters approved $20,000 for weatherization of the Elkins Public Library and established a renewable-energy capital reserve fund seeded at $1,000 (community power adder funds). The projects are part of a broader town energy-efficiency effort tied to community power savings.
Town voters approved two energy-related measures: $20,000 to weatherize the Elkins Public Library and the establishment of a renewable-energy capital reserve fund to receive community power adder funds.
Why it matters: The library weatherization is intended to lower long-term energy costs and improve building comfort. The renewable-energy capital reserve fund will collect the community power adder income for future energy projects; select board members and energy committee volunteers said the adder revenue can be used for projects that reduce the town’s energy consumption.
Tom Franco of the Canterbury Community Power Committee outlined the library project, saying an energy audit and a Unitil rebate reduced the net cost and that the town can expect a payback in roughly eight years and estimated lifetime savings of more than $55,000 over 25 years. Franco said the work will tighten the building envelope and lower propane and electric use, and he recommended the appropriation.
Voters also approved establishing a renewable-energy capital reserve fund under RSA 35 (Article 14) and placing $1,000 into it; Tom Franco said the money will come from the community power adder and will be used for future energy projects. A proposal to expand the reserve fund’s purposes to explicitly include energy-efficiency measures was discussed and subsequently withdrawn to allow clearer legal review and potential amendment at a future town meeting.
Ending: Officials said library weatherization work will proceed and that the new capital reserve fund will receive community-power adder receipts for future energy projects; community volunteers encouraged residents to support energy-efficiency programs such as window inserts and other measures.
