Environmental group far from idle

By Claire CoxPrint Story | Email Story
LENOX – The Lenox Environmental Committee will have an agenda ranging from recycling bins for downtown streets to diesel fuel made from oil used in cooking French-fried potatoes when it meets on Jan. 31. The committee was formed by a handful of dedicated environmentalists two years ago to analyze the energy consumption of town facilities. Since then, its concerns have led to leadership in efforts to install a wind turbine on Yokun Mountain and to encourage energy conservation with a an “idle-free” campaign to persuade motorists to turn off their engines during extended stops. With Town Manager Gregory Federspiel as its mentor, the committee’s mission is to raise public awareness of ways not only to conserve energy but also to find replacements for fossil fuels that contaminate the atmosphere. Federspiel, who has taken an active role in exploring the possibility of wind power for Lenox, said on Jan. 7 that he expecting the results of an engineering feasibility study within the next few weeks on whether the three 1-ton paddles for the projected turbine can be transported up a steep slope to the mountain’s crest. Meanwhile, the committee, chaired by Jamie Cullihane, is encouraging Lenox homeowners to invest in a renewable Clean Energy Choice program offered by Massachusetts Electric Co. The utility’s customers are being given an option of signing up for clean energy created with biomass, solar, wind or hydroelectric power. Those who enroll pay a premium on each month's Mass. Electric bill, with the proceeds used to purchase green energy that is fed into the electric system. The premium ranges from 2.2 to 1.3 cents per kilowatt hour. The Lenox Selectmen have endorsed this program, also known as Green-Up, as well as the Cape Wind Project proposal for 130 wind turbines in the ocean off Cape Cod. Rick Gregg, who initiated the idle-free campaign in Lenox, has been spreading word of the program throughout the state and hopes eventually it may spread across the nation. Idle-Free signs have been posted at schools, the Nature Preserve and other key points in town. With these projects in progress, Cullihane said the Environmental Committee is now going to look at recycling and biodiesel as important “fronts” in the war against waste and pollution. “We are going to look at the possibility of having recycling bins in town, along with trash bins,” he said last week. “There also should be extra bins in place for town-wide events such as the Apple Squeeze to receive used glass, cans and plastics.” He added, “We are also going to look at alternative automobiles’ fuel — biodiesel — made from vegetable oil, which can be used in any diesel vehicle.” In Holyoke, he said, the Energy Alliance is making biodiesel oil from plants that can be used in any diesel engine. Some people, he said, are processing used vegetable oil obtained from restaurant friers. He has also learned that a “veggie oil” refinery is being planned in the town of Greenfield. Biodiesel is processed from animal fats as well as vegetable oils, a concept introduced by Rudolf Diesel, the German scientist who developed the first diesel engine to run on vegetable oil, which was demonstrated at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. According to a biodiesel fact sheet prepared by the Clean Cities Technical Assistance that is available on the Internet, biodiesel is ideal fuel for use on boats and on vehicles in national parks and forests, as well as in heavily polluted cities. It can be produced from any renewable oilseed crops, such as soybeans, corn, canola and cotton and mustard seeds. And, Clean Cities adds, it replaces the exhaust odor of petroleum diesel with the pleasant aroma of popcorn or French fries. “I would like to see the Department of Public Works in Lenox use veggie diesel oil in its trucks, “ Cullihane said, “but right now it is too expensive. I would also like to see it used in school buses, where fossil fuel diesel oil is a children’s health issue. I’d like to see the school bus contract include biodiesel.” He added, “When Gustave Diesel invented the diesel engine, he did it for vegetable oil for use in farm tractors. He never thought of using fossil-fuel oil. Now, 100 years later, people are realizing that veggie oil is cleaner, and it’s growing as a renewable resource.”
Share
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
View Full Story

More Stories

Sports
image description

Lee Executes Game Plan to Perfection in Quarter-Final Win

Sports
Sports
image description

Lenox Volleyball Reaches State's Final Four

Sports
Sports
image description

Mount Greylock Boys Win 3rd Straight Regional Crown

Sports
Sports
image description

Mount Greylock Girls Again Top Monson in Western Mass Final

Sports
Sports
image description

Lenox Sweeps Its Way to Western Mass Crown

Sports
Community News
image description

North Adams License Commission Sees Little Need for License...

Community News
Latest Stories
Previous Next

What's Trending?