Lyme Energy Committee
Minutes
February 19, 2007
Present: Claudia Kern Denis Kelemen, Carola Lea, Sue MacKenzie, John Stadler, Matt Brown
Guest: Bob Walker
Pre-meeting discussion on different types of mercury: Denis pointed out that we have more mercury in our mouths than in a CFL He then talked about different kinds of mercury:
metallic mercury—kind in CFLs, not very toxic
amalgam mercury—kind in fillings, even less toxic
methyl mercury--very toxic. Kind that killed Karen Webb; concern in fish
Old Business:
1. No idling- John
John showed a draft of a great poster he had done. We discussed where to put it.
John will refer to a letter from Roger Lohr (he headed up the Hanover no-idling campaign) to work out wording and he’ll then talk to Jeffrey Valence (Lyme School principal) about ways to involve the school//kids in distributing the information. Claudia talked about capitalizing on the idea that the poster is a work of art, by a celebrated local artist.
Denis will talk to Skip Pendleton (Lyme school science teacher) about including the topic in his classes.
We hoped Sue (perhaps by talking to Jeffrey Valence) would coordinate a newsletter no-idling article with the school discussion
2. Carbon Coalition
Sue talked a little about the situation: 170 NH towns including Lyme will have it on the ballot at Town meeting
New Business: Bob Walker
1. Biodiesel
Bob spoke of the impressive presentation given by Doug Leach of Evans Fuel Mart (448-3400) in Hanover several months ago. Bob said Doug is very eager to talk to Lyme town officials about the advantages of using biodiesel.
The source of biodiesel is soybean oil.
There was criticism of several energy sources; ethanol. switch grass & biodiesel.
Claudia was concerned that biodiesel was just providing a band-aid solution but Bob pointed out that, among other things, biodiesel runs much cleaner than diesel fuel.
Bob hopes that Doug would talk to LEC and then to the Selectmen.
Who is following up on that ???
2. Denis will provide copies of the fluorescent light brochure that we
Distributed at the flea market for the bulb suitcase at the library. He will give any copying receipts, no matter how small, to Carola or Sue.
3. Step It Up 2007
Towns are having meetings/taking action to highlight climate change
Many towns will participate in an event in Hanover on 4/14/07
Carola will contact Linda Gray—Linda is coordinating the event.
4. Tire pressure/air compressor
Bob has signs and Matt will talk to Veraca about being involved in our effort to let the public know the importance of correct tire pressure.
5. Bob talked about the grant he is writing to cover the cost of putting together kits to put in the libraries of NH & VT towns that have energy committees, and also a project he has, putting together packages for towns that want to have lightbulb sales. We talked about the difficulty of doing that in NH where there are too many places to buy bulbs very inexpensively.
Other business
Carola suggested, and all agreed, that, when Tina is absent, we circulate alphabetically, the job of minute taker.
Next meeting: Monday, March 19, 2007 at 7:00 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Carola Lea
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