August 8, 2019
Announcements
Pres. Russ: With a club that's a microcosm of the community, there is a limitless pool of folks in our networks who would find our club and its work a great fit at this point in their lives. Russ believes it's a realistic goal to have each member identify one of their many friends and acquaintances to bring into the club this year. Perhaps one of our past members is in your circle and is ready to come back. Membership Chair Tom B has the list of past members and answers to all your questions ... Russ read a thank you note from Zoe Pappas, our scholarship winner this year.
Program
Tom B brought us Dan Clapp this morning, representing Revision Energy. Dan came to share his view of where our country and region are in meeting our energy needs with renewable sources. In NH, we use 224 million BTUs and emit just over 10 tons of contaminant. Residential uses absorb about 31% of those BTUs. We generate 19% of those BTUs with renewable sources of energy: biomass (72%), hydro (20%), wind (6%) and solar (1.5%). The 81% from non-renewable sources comes from oil (44%), nuclear (35%), and gas.
In contrast to NH, MA has reached 10% solar through an aggressive program to create demand through tax breaks. And in the process, they've created 10,000 new jobs. NH has four bills working their way through the legislature that would provide a boost to our renewable portion. Up to a point, creating a grid of local generators reduces the capital needs of providers like Eversource whose electricty has risen from 10 cents/KWH in 1990 to 20 cents in 2015. One of those bills - HB 365 - has a veto-proof majority so the governor's veto is expected to be overridden when it comes up for a vote next month.
Ed. Note: If you're thinking of paneling your own place, the best time to get a reading is the Spring or Fall.
Megabucks: $370
Editor: Ric