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Loudon Clean Energy Committee warns steep funding cuts threaten future projects
Summary
Community Power CTC NH contact George Sonnerson told the Board of Selectmen that the town's Clean Energy Committee members are willing to be reappointed but said cuts from $30,000 to $8,000 annually have left little capacity for new projects.
George Sonnerson, the contact for Community Power CTC NH, told the Loudon Board of Selectmen that members of the town's Clean Energy Committee want to be reappointed but that recent budget cuts have reduced the committee's ability to take on new projects.
Sonnerson said the committee previously received about $30,000 a year, was reduced to $15,000 and then cut again at Town Meeting to $8,000. "At $8,000 a year and $80,000 in 10 years, of which is probably only worth 60 by the time inflation works out, you are not going to have a very good situation," Sonnerson said, referring to the committee's ability to fund installations and maintenance.
The committee has completed several projects already, Sonnerson said, including work at the town hall and one of the fire stations. He told the board the committee currently has about $55,000 in its account and suggested using some of those funds for a solar array at the Maxfield Public Library and other small projects.
Sonnerson said several named volunteers would be willing to continue if reappointed: Denis Jakobowski, Harold McLaughlin, Michelle York, Sandy Blanchard and possibly Andrew Perella. He offered a local resident, Jerry Bergevin of Oak Hill Road, as an alternative member if the board preferred to appoint him.
Selectmen at the meeting expressed general support for the committee but noted budget pressures this year. "The board of selectmen may put it back in. It may get shot back down," one selectman said, adding that decisions about future funding will depend on annual budgets.
Public comment echoed the request for transparency on savings. Resident Sean Kitson asked the committee to document how much money the town is saving after accounting for project costs and maintenance and suggested fundraising or donations as alternatives to relying on the town operating budget.
The board did not take a formal vote to change the committee's funding during the meeting; Sonnerson asked that the selectmen discuss how to proceed and said committee members were willing to meet with the board or individually to answer questions.
Sonnerson closed by offering to answer further questions through Town Administrator Brenda (last name not specified) and said the committee is prepared to be reappointed if the board chooses to do so.
