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
-
Monday, May 14, 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: …
Project supporters are hopeful the legislation is passed by early June and wind turbines will be spinning soon after.
In a 4-0 vote during Tuesday's meeting, East Providence City Council members approved supporting a resolution that urges the General Assembly to enact legislation that establishes the East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC). Nine communities have agreed join in on the green project that would erect wind turbines to cut energy costs. Project supporters are hopeful the legislation will be approved by May or early June, according to East Providence Planning Director Jeanne Boyle. A potential site has been targeted in Tiverton. It is an industrial area, she said. It's still unknown how energy dividends would be split among the involved communities. Eric Bush, project manager of the project attended the meeting to answer questions councilors may …
41.81971
-71.37596
East Providence City Hall
145 Taunton Ave, East Providence, RI
/articles/council-supports-east-bay-energy-consortium-legislation
1776799
/locations/6929938
Govstench
8:21 am on Monday, May 14, 2012
The Portsmouth Turbine has had a very bad history with engineering challenges with the PUC over its rates. It has already replaced the battery system to keep it on standby. All of these parts, and probably the transmission, are made in Europe. Shipping delays will be long and the costs associalted with replacing that transmission set will be big. Do we see a cash revenue problem here? This energy…   more ›