Biddeford wants to be a Cool City

Journal Tribune
Beatrice Marovich
July 11, 2006

BIDDEFORD - Biddeford has become one of several cities in the state, along with Portland and Belfast, that has formally pledged to reduce global warming carbon dioxide pollution to 7 percent below 1990 levels, by the year 2012.

Since city councilors signed the Sierra Club's "Cool Cities" agreement - an initiative targeting mayors, county commissioners, and governors across the country - discussion of Biddeford's environmental values, and current policy approaches has ensued.

At a recent city council meeting, some elected officials made it clear that they wanted to take the initiative - which encourages a city-wide focus on green vehicle fleets, energy efficiency, and renewable energy - seriously.

"When I first read through this, I thought, 'It sounds like feel-good legislation,'" said Councilor Susan Deschambault, urging that the city should look toward implementation. "I don't want to be a part of passing feel-good legislation."

This is good news for local environmentalist Chuck Hazzard. He brought the legislation to the city and believes it could benefit from branding like this - aligning them with environmentally friendly interests.

"I'm very interested in having Biddeford make as many changes as it can to improve the view of Biddeford from the outside," he said. "Biddeford has a bad image, of being an old mill town. This really could be a catalyst to raise the image of Biddeford as an up-and-coming city."

Hazzard was glad to learn that the city was signing the agreement and was full of ideas for how it can pursue the most energy efficient standards in historical renovations, or how to recover energy from the septic treatment plant.

He did add that he'd been surprised by the extent to which the city was already complying with the Sierra Club recommendations. Biddeford Middle School, for example, was built to meet standards set by the Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design rating system.

"The first thing I said was, 'Why doesn't anyone known about this?'" Hazzard asked. "This is stuff they ought to be pounding their chest about." Other cities, he added, are not hesitant to trump such measures.

"Certainly the students ought to be aware that the building meets those qualifications," he said, adding that the school should also engage parents, giving tours and educating residents about the measures they're taking.

Mayor Wallace Nutting said that the city recently received a grant to implant catalytic converters in city vehicles, they have a no idle policy throughout the city, and they also have an environmental code officer on staff - Brian Phinney, who has offered expert advice in the city's negotiation with the Maine Energy Recovery Company.

Phinney primarily examines air toxics emissions, but said that he will be expanding his role as the city works to comply with the Sierra Club agreement.

Phinney called the program, "a great framework for the city," one that could also, "serve the community as a reference."

"As the council insisted, and I'm glad they did, this is not just a signature," Nutting said. Biddeford, like others nation-wide, he said, is becoming more sensitive and aware of environmental issues.

"There is a more recent view that says that you can live closer in line with the environment without spending more, we have to find this," he said. "I think that people have, all of the sudden, in the majority, become convinced that global warming does exist. We're at a turning point."

Contact Beatrice Marovich by calling 282-1535 ext. 324 or e-mail bmarovich.gwi.net.