Town OKs funding to learn more about electric aggregate
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
Town Meeting voters on Monday night unanimously approved the Finance Committee's motion to appropriate $35,000 to study the costs and operational structure of an island municipal electric aggregate, whereby a group of customers allows the town to contract for power at reduced rates from competitive energy suppliers.

Following the 1998 deregulation of the energy industry, Nantucket voters in 2004 authorized the Energy Study Committee to represent islanders in negotiating low cost energy contracts. At Town Meeting 2006, voters unanimously approved the committee's pursuit of a local aggregate to obtain the best power prices available for residents. The town and school department already purchase their own electricity.

Energy Study Committee chairman Mike Burns hoped residents would approve his amendment to Article 23, that would provide funds to allow constitution of an islandwide aggregate, but he was not disappointed with the vote. Originally, the committee sought $356,800 to develop the aggregate's components and cover $150,000 in working capital.

The Finance Committee questioned the cost of the set-up and how the aggregate would be run, and recommended voters approve $35,000 to fund a report of options for its structure. In response, Burns penned an amendment seeking $154,000 for the initial development effort, including the cost for approvals from the Division of Energy Resources and Department of Transportation and Energy. Burns wanted to avoid "a piecemeal funding approach" that he said could delay the aggregate by two years and deprive residents of an estimated $3 million in rate savings.

But the Finance Committee's motion was also supported by the selectmen. Prior to the vote, Selectmen chairman Whitey Willauer explained to the audience that while the board likes the aggregate concept, only $35,000 was budgeted towards the project and if the amendment went through an override would be necessary to make up the difference for the $154,000.

"I viewed it as a no-lose situation," Burns said of the vote. "They appropriated funds to do some of the tasks. I think it would buy enough information to provide some clarity on what [an aggregate is] and how it works."

ARTICLE 9

Article 9 - to appropriate $331,000 to fund 10 island human service agencies - passed unanimously with little discussion. Pam Bartlett, who called the article, expressed concern over how the nonprofits would be accountable for their spending. Town Administrator Libby Gibson explained that each agency provides quarterly reports to the Council for Human Services that indicate how the allocated monies are spent. John Belash, a member of the Contract Review Committee that examines each funding application before recommending which should be granted and for what amount, added that the agencies perform their own audits using independent audit firms.

The funds for FY08, which have been level for the last four years, were divided among the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, A Safe Place, Martha's Vineyard Community Services, Elder Services of the Cape and Islands, the Interfaith Council Food Pantry, the Interfaith Council Rental Assistance program, South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Nantucket Behavioral Health Services, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, and Small

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