NORWICH – With a bigger push now more than ever to utilize alternative energy resources, Chenango County business leaders, non-profit agencies and local officials came together Wednesday at the Classic Car Museum on Rexford Street for a “Lunch and Learn” energy workshop.
Nearly 100 participants attended Wednesday’s workshop with hopes of exploring how clean energy can have an impact on the environment and their budget. Among those in attendance were representatives from businesses and various business affiliations, including Commerce Chenango and the Chenango County Farm Bureau, in addition to other representatives from municipalities throughout the county.
“In my view, one of the best things for the environment and for businesses is saving energy,” said event coordinator Steven Palmetier, better known in Chenango County for his professional consultation in natural gas. Palmetier cited energy expenses that burden businesses, municipalities and non-profits alike, stating, “Anyone who operates a facility can certainly benefit from an event like this.”
Although the workshop was attended primarily by Chenango County agencies and local leaders, it was also open to surrounding municipalities. The ultimate goal, however, is to put Chenango County in the spotlight when it comes to renewable alternative energy, said Palmetier, who added, “I would like to make Chenango County the center for this kind of activity.”
Several organizations committed to marketing clean energy were scheduled to attend Wednesday’s workshop, each offering the opportunity to network and share information about state and federal incentives available to businesses and not-for-profit entities for facility upgrades. Among those in attendance: New York State Electric and Gas; America’s Natural Gas Alliance; Glauber Equipment Corporation; PowerMaster; and Clean Communities of Central New York.
A featured presentation was also given by Blue Spring Energy representative Larry Simpson, who spoke about some of the incentives available through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
From a business standpoint, green energy incentives are an invaluable resource to entice local economic growth, according to Commerce Chenango President Steve Craig.
“We at Commerce Chenango do several different things to spur economic activity,” he explained. “These are incentives that allow us to engage in economic activity that we might not otherwise engage in.”
Town of Guildford Supervisor George Seneck attended the event to find new ways of reducing the municipality’s carbon footprint while simultaneously easing strain on its budget.
“The problem we have is that most of our facilities are quite new,” he said, explaining that the four-year-old Guilford municipal building was already too efficient to qualify for state and federal incentives.
Guildford, however, is exploring the possibility of solar thermal energy further down the road, Seneck added.
Wednesday’s seminar was not all about facility upgrades. Barry Carr, representing Clean Communities of Central NY, spoke of the alternatives available when it comes to transportation. The mission of Clean Communities of Central New York is to displace petroleum-run vehicles with conventional alternatives such as electric cars, hybrids and natural gas vehicles.
“Clean energy is a growing program,” explained Hal Stevens, who attended the event with DCMO BOCES Campus Safety vehicle, a 1992 Chevrolet Lumina that students in the BOCES atomechanics program retrofitted to run on natural gas. “It is those students who are going to profit from this kind of technology. It is a growing opportunity and I think there will be a lot more opportunity for them in this type of field in the future.”
For additional information and resources available for businesses and not-for-profits, visit renewchenangocounty.org.