With energy costs on the rise, the Town of Rotterdam is looking at ways to improve the town’s energy efficiency by contracting with a consulting firm through the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency’s Flex Tech program, which will pay 10 percent of the costs for an approved energy audit.
The audit, which will be completed by Barton & Loguidice, will provide a comprehensive audit of the town’s energy use at a cost not to exceed $37,950.
Per the contract with NYSERDA, Rotterdam would pay 90 percent of the audit’s cost, up to $29,256.
Of particular concern to Supervisor Steven Tommasone is the town’s sewage treatment plant, located on West Campbell Road in Schenectady.
“They will help us to identify which equipment we need to be replacing,” Tommasone said of the sewage treatment plant.
He said the infrastructure in the plant is very old, but that the sewage goes through a very technical process.
Tommasone said in the past the town did not focus enough on infrastructure that could withstand growth and is now paying for it through high energy bills.
“We spend a lot of money, and not just at the sewer plant but at our water treatment facility.” Tommasone said.
He estimates the town spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to pump both sewage and water.
“If we can’t decrease the cost,” Tommasone said, “we need to at least flatten our usage.”
The town has a history with Barton & Loguidice, Tommasone said. He said he is confident their audit will shed light on issues the town needs to address in the future.
He said Barton & Loguidice has been to the sewage treatment plant in the past and is aware of some of the problems.
He said the company has helped the town obtain grant funding for upgrades at the facility in the past.
He said he does not want to raise the cost of sewage treatment for the residents. Tommasone said sewage treatment costs residents less than $300 annually, while throughout the Capital District prices range between $500 and $600 per resident annually.
Sal Graven, a spokesman with NYSERDA said the consultants would look at ways to streamline the town’s energy usage.
“We want to focus on renewable energy and where we can use renewable energy,” Tommasone said.
Tommasone expects to have a comprehensive audit of the town’s energy use complete by spring of next year.
“We don’t see it being too lengthy a process,” Tommasone said. “We’ll be able to make a determination of whether to do upgrades now or wait for extreme developments to make these developments more economically feasible.”
Tommasone said the town has been frugal with its expenditures in the past and that the opportunity to save on an audit of the town’s energy usage is too good to pass up.
Tommasone expects to have a comprehensive audit of the town’s energy use complete by spring of next year.
“We don’t see it being too lengthy a process,” Tommasone said. “We’ll be able to make a determination of whether to do upgrades now or wait for extreme developments to make these developments more economically feasible.”
That's an excerpt from the end of the article that started the thread. I don't recall hearing anymore of this since. I am eager to hear where we stand - spring has arrived.
There is no excuse, IMHO, why this comp plan has not been updated. It was promised 8 years ago. That was one of the key issues that Tommasone first campaigned on, way back when.
We need a new updated comp plan along with rules, regulations and guidelines for future developers to follow. These should be done and made public on the town's website not only for the residents to see, but for developers to view BEFORE they want to develop here.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
this is the repubs fault and you people should run them out of the town soon
Perhaps the reps should be voted 'out'. But to be replaced by who? The dems? The cons? Hardly. They are all compromised. They have all had their chance in the sun over the years/decades. Rotterdam and the entire county needs new, fresh blood. And hopefully NOT a homegrown where favors, back door deals and political incorrect behavior runs rampant.
It's clear you have your own political agenda sal ....but the reps are just a part of the problem. There is plenty of blame to go around the political party gambit!
We just need people that will get the job done FOR THE PEOPLE!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Logged
....but the reps are just a part of the problem. There is plenty of blame to go around the political party gambit! 
