1. EAST VILLAGE CAFE - Union St                Tuesday, October 4                                 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
2. WHITE SQUARE BOOKS - Union St           Thursday, October 13                              5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
3. EAST VILLAGE CAFE                                  Tuesday, October 18                               5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
4. WHITE SQUARE  BOOKS                            Thursday, Oct 27                                      5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

This past spring, the Rail Trail Bridge over Rte 5 was officially opened. There was a large and enthusiastic crowd for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. This bridge connected the Manhan Rail Trail to Northampton's network of bike trails and other communities to the north. The trail is now experiencing more traffic than ever and providing cyclists, commuters, runners, walkers, and other users new experiences for all to enjoy. We thank local and state officials and the volunteers who helped make this dream a reality. Now we are in the process of preparing the site for the Lovefield Road bridge before its installation in September. This will complete the Manhan Trail to the north. Work is moving along briskly on the southern extension to Coleman Road and Southampton. Shown below are pictures of the trail construction looking south from South Street. This section is expected to be completed for spring 2012 and will connect the Manhan Rail Trail with Southampton and points south.

                                                                                                             

NASHAWANNUCK POND RESTORATION AND BOARDWALK As part of the cleanup and restoration of our town centerpeice, Nashawannuck Pond, the mayor has worked with supporters to bring a needed attraction to the downtown area. A proposed boardwalk which would encircle the pond along Cottage St and Williston Ave. This would provide recreational facilities for small boats, kayaks, fishing, strolling, or just sitting and enjoying the view of the pond and Mount Tom. Created in 1846 by Samuel Williston, the pond originally provided water power to factories in the area. Now a centerpiece of downtown Easthampton, the pond affords an excellent view of Mt. Tom and is close to

SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT NEWS Mayor Mike Tautznik signed separate deals with Lowell-based Borrego Solar Systems - which will bring one of the largest municipal solar arrays in the state (about 2.7 megawatts) to Easthampton - and a 35-month contract with TransCanada Corp that will lower the city's electricity rates to its buildings by 23.5 percent. There are still agreements to be struck with Western Massachusetts Electric Co., which is under state mandate to introduce more green electricity to its grid, but Tautznik said that he hopes Borrego can begin to install the solar arrays this summer. The panels, which will also require local permits, will be located on the closed Oliver Street landfill and on a piece of land adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant off Ferry Street. The contract with the solar energy company will save the city an estimated $100,000 per year, Tautznik said. "It's green energy; it's the right thing to do," Tautznik said. The agreement is also financially beneficial to the city, which will not have to spend any taxpayer money on the project. Borrego will build the $20 million array with its own money on leased city property, in exchange for an agreement that Easthampton will purchase the electricity that the panels produce at a discounted rate. The city will earn credits on its power bills by selling excess electricity back into the power grid through an arrangement with WMECO, called "net metering." "It's a good deal," Tautznik said.

The city will likely apply the landfill credits to the city's streetlight account and the wastewater plant credits to the plant's power account, he said. Easthampton will be one of the first communities in Massachusetts to erect solar panels on a closed landfill. The project will require a re-use permit from the Department of Environmental Protection, which has recently hosted information sessions for municipal leaders who want to learn more about siting solar panels on landfills. Tautznik has been negotiating with Borrego since September. He said that the process was a bit slow because there weren't boilerplate contracts to review from other communities in the state. "We don't have anyone to copy," Tautznik said. The 10-year contract with Borrego leaves the city with the option in 2021 of purchasing the system, discontinuing the lease or continuing the arrangement for another five to 10 years. A recent downswing in electricity rates was what Tautznik said led him to renegotiate the city's electricity rates for its buildings and schools with TransCanada, which has supplied power to the city since 2003. The newly extended contract will save the city $7,600 per month through mid-2013, an estimated savings of $228,000 over the life of the agreement. Starting in January, the city will pay 7.4 cents per kilowatt hour instead of the previously contracted 9.8 cents. "You try to take advantage of the markets when you can," Tautznik said. "It will essentially insulate us from any kind of shock in electricity pricing."

Tautznik said that while most Green Communities use their grants to retrofit municipal buildings to reduce energy consumption, Easthampton officials were looking for a project that would create "more meaningful change." The compelling reason we wanted to do it is for the energy savings, but we also wanted something that could be used as an example for other green communities," Tautznik said. "Maybe this will help other communities that are considering LED lighting, but aren't sure about doing it yet." In early August, the city received the first shipment of 128 LED lights, purchased from  LED Roadway Lighting Ltd. of Nova Scotia. The shipment includes the 88-watt lightbulbs that will replace the existing street lights on Routes 10 and 141, which use 3½ times as much wattage. Another 341 44-watt LEDs are due to arrive soon and will replace the 70-watt bulbs along another 31 city streets, including East, Ferry, Hendrick, Parsons and Park. Tautznik estimated the replacement, to be completed by Westfield-based Utility Services of New England, will take four to five weeks. The 44-watt lights have already been tested out on a few city streets, including Mechanic Street, Fairfield Avenue and a section of Holyoke Street near Vadnais Street. Tautznik said the lights are "dark sky compliant," so they do not contribute to light pollution. "The LED lighting is very direct, meaning that it will light the sidewalks and streets but not people's lawns and houses," he said. Tautznik said the LEDs are estimated to save 175,000 watts, which would reduce the city's energy costs by $23,700 each year at current energy prices. With the estimated $13,000 in maintenance savings, the city stands to save about $36,700 per year.

  

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