The Engaged Sierran
Making Solar Work for the NH Homeowner
Mark Boren in front of his solar-paneled home. |
A NH Sierra Club supporter has become an advocate and activist in the area of solar power for the home. Mark Boren bought a newly constructed home in Dover and, in April 2014, installed solar panels and a heat pump, which have performed well enough to eliminate heating and cooling costs for this property.
Mark is an avid outdoorsperson who has scaled all the New England 4K peaks, plus those in NH twice! He has been supporting the NHSC since 2000 because of the Club’s reputation for effective lobbying for environmental issues. He finally decided the time had come this year for him to put his own convictions about the environment to work.
With the help of Revision Energy, solar system installer, a plan was made for the Boren’s Dover home to be converted to solar. While the cost was considerable, Mark was sure the elimination of utility bills would help, but primarily he understood how this is the way to go to get the future we want for our planet. His home now feeds energy back to PSNH most of the time, and there is only a small draw from the grid at night. Next? A charging port and the electric or hybrid car to go with it!
Mark recommends that everyone contact their legislators, as he has contacted local office holders in his area, to encourage promotion of better incentives for homeowners and businesses to install solar equipment. He believes in the goals and purpose of the state’s 25 x '25 Renewable Energy Initiative, and is happy to be adding his efforts to that goal. Hopefully, his experience and passion will encourage others to look more carefully into adding this technology to their own properties.
For additional information about 25x’25, visit the NH Office of Energy and Planning.
Volunteer for Market Days
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
July 17, 18, and 19
NH Sierra Club needs you to help us host a table at the Concord Market Days! Enjoy visiting Market Days and help staff our table. We will have information to distribute, and petitions available for people to sign.
Sign up now and invite your like-minded friends to share a shift with you. We are asking folks to sign up for at least one 2-hour shift, and would like to have 2 people per shift. (That means we need at least six people per day!)
Sign up today: http://doodle.com/8ug797bm2prxcb7e#table
Support New Carbon Standards
We are so excited by the new carbon standards! Announced by the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this month, the new standards will seek to reduce the amount of carbon pollution produced by U.S. power plants by up to 30 percent (relative to 2005 levels) by 2030. The standards will help ensure that a much greater share of the nation's future power needs can be obtained from wind, solar, and energy efficiency measures, which will reduce the need to burn fossil fuels for electricity.
You can learn more from this great page by the NRDC.
It's important to let your representatives know you support the new standards!
- Call Senator Ayotte: (603) 622-7979
- Call Senator Shaheen: (603) 647-7500
Let them know you support the new carbon standard for existing power plants because you care about climate disruption and finding solutions to lower our risks.
Want to do more? Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
What's New Hampshire's energy strategy?
Attend a public hearing to discuss the draft energy strategy:
- Thursday, June 24, 6 p.m. - DES Regional Office at Pease International Tradeport, 222 Int'l Dr., Suite 175, Portsmouth
- Friday, June 25, 6 p.m. - Nashua Community College, 505 Amherst St., Nashua
- Tuesday, July 8, 6 p.m. - Plymouth State University, Hyde Hall, Room 120 on Langdon St between High St and Merrill St.
Access the Draft Strategy.
Find Outings on our Meetup Group
Now you can browse outings and be alerted when new outings are posted, all from our NH Sierra Club Meetup Group. Visit http://www.meetup.com/NH-Sierra-Club-Outings/ and sign up today.
Celebrate 50 Years of Wilderness with our upcoming outings:
Hike in Great Gulf, Monday, June 23
Led by Outings Leader Peter Hope and Carla Dow, you will explore this wild area, via Old Jackson Road, Madison Gulf and Great Gulf Trails, and Osgood Trail and Cutoff. Good views from outlooks at Lowe's Bald Spot, The Bluff, and Osgood Cuttoff Slide.
Total distance 7.3 miles, with 1250' elevation gain. Moderate. Easy car-spot.
Contact Outings Leader Peter Hope for start time and location. (603) 863-6456.
Presidential Range - Dry River Area, Monday, July 14
We will climb Stairs Mountain (3450') from Jericho Road, via Rocky Branch and Stairs Col Trails and the Davis Path. Great views from summit of Giant Stairs. 8.8 miles, with 2400' elevation gain. Moderate/Strenuous. Outings Leaders Peter Hope and Herb Kingsbury.
Contact Outings Leader Peter Hope for start time and location. (603) 863-6456.
These hikes are co-sponsored by AMC.
Photo courtesy Burlington Free Press. |
Two Chances to Meet U.S. Senator (Vt.) Bernie Sanders
Ask Bernie what we should do about climate disruption and how to support meaningful solutions!
Saturday, June 28, 2 p.m.
MainStreet Bookends, Warner
Join Sen. Bernie Sanders for a discussion on rebuilding our economy and restoring our democracy.
This event is free and open to all. RSVP is requested but not required by calling 603-456-2700, or on Facebook.
Saturday, June 28, 5:30 p.m.
Hampshire Hills Function Center, 50 Emerson Road, Milford
Sen. Bernie Sanders will give the keynote: The Fight to Save the Middle Class. Part of the Hillsborough County Democratic Committee Grassroots Dinner.
June 2014