Page 21 - May 2017 BNP ALL
P. 21
Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper May 2017 Page 21
Commissioners Get Green Update
James Rada, Jr.
Although the Emmitsburg algae-control system in Rainbow
Town staff comprehensive energy Lake.
plan presentation in April focused
primarily on financials, it also looked Also, as benefit to being a certified
at how Emmitsburg was becoming sustainable community, Emmitsburg
a greener and more sustainable gets priority when applying for state
community. grants.
Maryland currently has only thirty- “We do get grant priority because
five certified sustainable communities we are certified, which opens the door
out of sixty-seven towns and cities to a lot of funding we would not
that are working toward that goal. get otherwise,” said Town Manager
Emmitsburg has been certified a Cathy Willets.
sustainable community in 2015.
This priority helped the town get
A number of projects that the $250,000 in Community Legacy
town sponsors haven both improved Grants, which have helped improve
the quality of life in Emmitsburg business facades in town.
and contributed toward the town
achieving its certified sustainable While the use of LED street lights
status. These projects include: the save the town money, they also use
community gardens; the Emmitsburg 60 percent fewer kilowatt hours.
Farmers Market; the town’s multi-user The PowerStar System on the sewage
trails; the sidewalk project that made treatment plants optimizes the power
it easier to walk from place to place used at the plant so that less energy is
throughout the town; the pet waste used.
ordinance; the Emmitsburg Business
and Professional Association; solar The new algae-control system not
fields; LED street lights; and the new only saves the town 642,250 gallons
of water a month, but it significantly
reduces the amount of chemicals
needed to treat that water. The
installation of the system has freed up
the equivalent of 85 water taps.
While the new wastewater
treatment plant was a state-mandated
project, it has allowed the town to
reduce the levels of nitrogen and
phosphorus in the water, which is
good for the Chesapeake Bay.
The solar fields have allowed the
town to avoid producing 5.7 million
pounds of carbon dioxide since their
installation.
Future green projects planned for
the town include: the installation of
two electric car charging stations in
town; rain barrels and composting; a
water conservation plan; watershed
stewardship; and tree planting.
Commissioners Get Green Update
James Rada, Jr.
Although the Emmitsburg algae-control system in Rainbow
Town staff comprehensive energy Lake.
plan presentation in April focused
primarily on financials, it also looked Also, as benefit to being a certified
at how Emmitsburg was becoming sustainable community, Emmitsburg
a greener and more sustainable gets priority when applying for state
community. grants.
Maryland currently has only thirty- “We do get grant priority because
five certified sustainable communities we are certified, which opens the door
out of sixty-seven towns and cities to a lot of funding we would not
that are working toward that goal. get otherwise,” said Town Manager
Emmitsburg has been certified a Cathy Willets.
sustainable community in 2015.
This priority helped the town get
A number of projects that the $250,000 in Community Legacy
town sponsors haven both improved Grants, which have helped improve
the quality of life in Emmitsburg business facades in town.
and contributed toward the town
achieving its certified sustainable While the use of LED street lights
status. These projects include: the save the town money, they also use
community gardens; the Emmitsburg 60 percent fewer kilowatt hours.
Farmers Market; the town’s multi-user The PowerStar System on the sewage
trails; the sidewalk project that made treatment plants optimizes the power
it easier to walk from place to place used at the plant so that less energy is
throughout the town; the pet waste used.
ordinance; the Emmitsburg Business
and Professional Association; solar The new algae-control system not
fields; LED street lights; and the new only saves the town 642,250 gallons
of water a month, but it significantly
reduces the amount of chemicals
needed to treat that water. The
installation of the system has freed up
the equivalent of 85 water taps.
While the new wastewater
treatment plant was a state-mandated
project, it has allowed the town to
reduce the levels of nitrogen and
phosphorus in the water, which is
good for the Chesapeake Bay.
The solar fields have allowed the
town to avoid producing 5.7 million
pounds of carbon dioxide since their
installation.
Future green projects planned for
the town include: the installation of
two electric car charging stations in
town; rain barrels and composting; a
water conservation plan; watershed
stewardship; and tree planting.
