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06/20/2007: "Going Green Upstate: A success story"

In the heartland of this state, Tompkins County, a Supervisor of the Town of Caroline named Don Barber is making a difference. Rather than waiting with bated breath as the great issues of the day are settled—progress on the a new State power generation siteing law, or news on the terms of the Regional greenhouse Gas Initiative, or for new leaders of the PSC or NYSERDA to be appointed—this Upstate Town Supervisor is setting an example for municipal officials everywhere

Supervisor Barber’s personal commitment is impressive. He bikes to work, has solar panels in his home, works his farm with draft horses, travels around in his Hybrid car, and his construction firm has been featured for its aggressive recycling program.

Politically too, he has striven to generate consciousness about renewable energy and energy efficiency. Before he was elected--and one of the reasons why he was elected--one of Mr. Barber’s campaign events a tour of solar energy installations in our Town. The event got so much publicity that NYSEG overcame their initial reluctance and finally agreed to connect Don’s home solar system to the grid.

Don believes there is a connection between personal commitment to Alternative Energy and being elected to public office. His first legislative initiative was an energy audit of the Town’s old and historic buildings and he secured a grant from the State to implement several energy saving tasks including installing insulation and ceiling fans to drive heat down for high ceilings, a programmable thermostat, and energy efficient lighting.

In 2004, in exchange for the Town purchasing a portion of its electricity from Wind Power, Community Energy gave free power to three local schools.

The Town Board made itself a goal, and met that goal, to purchase, in 2005, 100% of the Town’s electricity from Wind Power and asked for private donations to help offset the premium. Needing to raise roughly $1200 for premium, we asked for donations. The community response was great enough that we raised $3600 – enough for three years.

Don’s and the Town Board’s leadership has inspired private citizens to create a committee called “Energy Independent Caroline”. The launched a “Heating Solutions” campaign (inform residents of ways to conserve energy). They are currently going door to door asking people to complete an energy awareness survey and are passing out compact fluorescent light bulbs (donated by 2 chain stores) to those completing the survey. They will also be performing a carbon analysis of Town energy usage and making policy recommendations from that analysis. In addition, they are organizing another fund raising campaign for the purchase of wind power.

For alternative energy, change can be done by individuals, businesses, and governments – both separately and collectively. The Town of Caroline’s effort started with just a few and is now spreading. Demonstrating once again - an individual’s power to affect change.

Don Barber and the Town of Caroline have demonstrated something critical to the success of Upstate: Don’t wait for the world to change around you. Start the change yourself. Examples like this show the true power of Upstaters to change their own destiny.