Mayor Davlin declaring Springfield a Cool City has already produced results by signaling to local leaders that renewable energy and efficiency efforts are a major priority for the city and that it needs to be a community-wide effort. I was very encouraged by how many new faces came to learn about the Cool Cities program and the detailed questions they asked.
After my power point presentation on Cool Cities, Bob Croteau, from the CWLP Energy Services Office, gave an update on everything their office has been working on recently and what's coming in the near future. One highlight is the new rebate and recycling program for old refrigerators. New refrigerators are much more energy efficient so CWLP will pick up older units and recycle them for you. More details about that program will be available soon.
Bob also mentioned that CWLP will soon sell renewable energy certificates (RECs). Customers who want more of their energy to come from renewable sources will be able to purchase RECs to promote additional clean energy use on the grid. Plus, there's too much happening for me to summarize on my blog so come to the next meeting in November for all the news.
Twice now, I've heard Mayor Davlin brag about Springfield being named one of the top 30 greenest cities in America and say that he wants us to be named one of the top ten. Springfield is already doing much, especially following the CWLP-Sierra Club power plant agreement, and I get the exciting feeling that the city is about to reach a new level of environmental action.