Putnam Energy Ef f iciency Forum Plans for the Future

Burt Houseworth did his homework.

The retired business executive, who serves as CEO of the Putnam County Industrial Development Agency, coordinated Putnam County’s first Sustained Energy Efficiency Project last week, which was attended by some three dozen elected and appointed officials; representatives of local schools, colleges, and universities; architects; businessmen and businesswomen; and officials from agencies related to energy conservation.

For two hours a roundtable discussion focused on methods to educate the public concerning the need, practicality, and economic development benefits of a green energy program.

Westchester Legislator George Oros agreed with former Brewster Mayor John Degnan, who called the topic a “question of national security.” Oros said as projects are built and renovated throughout the region “instead of blueprints, we need ‘green prints.’ We must think about energy efficiency on a daily basis because America’s dependence on foreign oil is an issue of national security.”

Dario Gristina, president of GENERGY, a corporation located in Carmel, is a proponent of solar energy, which he said provided needed revenue for county coffers: “Putnam County is located within a short distance from large users of energy such as Westchester and New York City. The county has been blessed with many acres of vacant land—property in close proximity to major power lines that crisscross the county, providing direct hook-up on the grid for potential sale of electricity generated by solar power panels.”

One parcel mentioned by Gristina is found in Putnam Valley. He noted that each of Putnam’s six towns contains parcels suitable to the deployment of solar power.

Legislator Vincent Tamagna of Nelsonville told the get-together: “In Putnam County, we give a lot of money to people who don’t really like us. If we are really going to make a mark and protect ourselves, this county must become self-sufficient when it comes to energy.”

Tamagna believes that Putnam County can create a sustainable community: “We can easily become the lead in the Northeast by creating a variety of business opportunities while being responsible towards the environment as leaders look towards creating alternatives to oil and natural gas—wind, solar, hydro, or geothermal. Our small county can become a major supplier of megawatts of power to communities adjacent to the New York City metropolitan area.”

Tamagna said that with the creation of new energy sources, tradespeople could become gainfully employed due to the county’s ingenuity. “We are on the forefront of something great, and will continue to carry the torch as we move into 2010,” he said.

Houseworth was thrilled with the turnout and the dialogue: “My hope is that actions will now speak louder than words. Ideas and concepts and have exchanged. Now chambers of commerce, clubs, fraternal organizations, fire departments, and the like must be educated about the opportunities that exist enabling them to make financial gains and contributions to energy efficiency by changing their lifestyles—be it changing light fixtures or heating systems while capitalizing on grants that may be available.”

Houseworth called on homeowners to join the march toward energy conservation, as well. A program is being coordinated through the auspices of Dutchess Community College that will qualify in-home energy audit experts to advise the property owner how to make his or her residence energy efficient.

Houseworth said “we in Putnam County can’t change the direction of the wind but we can adjust the sales to make energy efficiency happen.”