Officials, EPA celebrate energy conservation work

THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency awarded nearly $500,000 to East Greenwich, North Providence, South Kingstown and Warwick five years ago to reduce energy bills. On Monday, officials gathered to recognize the work that has been accomplished by the communities as a result of the grant funding.
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency awarded nearly $500,000 to East Greenwich, North Providence, South Kingstown and Warwick five years ago to reduce energy bills. On Monday, officials gathered to recognize the work that has been accomplished by the communities as a result of the grant funding.

( Updated 3:30 p.m.)WARWICK – Five years ago, East Greenwich, North Providence, South Kingstown and Warwick shared a $497,492 federal Environmental Protection Agency grant to reduce energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions in municipal and residential buildings.
On Monday, the Ocean State’s congressional delegation joined EPA representatives, elected officials and community representatives to recognize the work that has been accomplished by the four communities, all of which were designated Climate Showcase Communities by the EPA.
The event was held at Thayer and Warburton Ice Arenas, one of the buildings in Warwick that Mayor Scott Avedisian said became more energy efficient as a result of the funds.
According to information from the mayor’s office, interior and exterior energy efficient lighting was installed at the ice rink. Energy efficient boilers also were installed at two city fire stations.
“It is gratifying to me that these funds have been used to make the Thayer and Warburton Ice Arenas, our pool and two of our fire stations more energy efficient,” Avedisian said.
Going forward, Warwick expects to save approximately $35,000 a year as a result of the changes, according to the mayor’s office.
The towns all implemented energy efficiency and conservation measures. Building operators, employees and students also were trained as to how to reduce energy use, according to a news release from the EPA.
Based on the program’s success, the Rhode Island Public Energy Partnership, led by the R.I. Office of Energy Resources, is working with municipalities statewide to help them become more energy efficient and lower their operating costs and reduce greenhouse gases. The University of Rhode Island also was involved – 15 students were involved over the course of the five-year program and were designated as “energy fellows” to assist the municipalities with energy conservation needs.
“I am pleased to have helped make this federal funding available and proud of the way these communities and organizations came together to promote energy efficiency,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said in a statement.
“Working with the University of Rhode Island and the talented students selected as energy fellows, these four municipalities have shown real leadership in assessing energy use in their communities and developing ways to reduce consumption. They organized the Rhode Island Public Energy Partnership and created energy manager positions in South Kingstown and Warwick. The Thayer and Warburton Ice Arenas received nearly $100,000 in funding from the competitive grant for energy upgrades. In addition, the grant recipients have formed a strong partnership with National Grid, which has helped fund many projects and provided incentives for residents in these four communities to increase energy efficiency and reduce consumption.”
Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said, “The lessons learned through these projects will help pave the way for communities to save money and energy and support local jobs, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi said the city experienced considerable savings by using geothermal energy in town hall.
South Kingstown Town Manager Stephen A. Alfred said the program also has been “a tremendous success” in his town, noting that all of the lighting at the Public Safety complex was retrofitted, “generating substantial savings in electricity costs, providing better working conditions at the police station, and reducing our carbon footprint as a community.”

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