8/20/09 Letter to Editor Re TB Votes Down Smart Grid

Last Thursday, the Pound Ridge Town Board voted to participate in a grant application under one of the richest of the economic recovery program initiatives. They join 8 other Northern Westchester towns in this effort to obtain funds to enable their residents and the municipal government to invest and earn revenue in the new "green" economy on the Fed's nickel. If/when the grant is won, if a town deems the arrangements not in their interest, they can still opt out. After the program is launched, the town and residents are under no obligation to utilize the grant funds to purchase Smart-grid-enabled appliances or invest in other income-generating electrical control facilities. After purchasing Smart grid enabled items with federal support, there is no obligation to participate in the electric grid "calls”. And then finally, if they do offer to “shed load” on call, the risk that the commitment is not met is taken on by a third party "aggregator”. On the same evening that Pound Ridge became the 9th town to join in, Lewisboro voted against participation - for the second time. Lewisboro is the only town to bring this simple, risk-free resolution to a vote, and vote it down. My colleagues offered an agitated avalanche of reasons, mostly around the risk theme, why they would not join Supervisor Ed Brancati and myself in voting to make this program available to the town. I found these totally at odds with reality. Perhaps they will have more success explaining to the public.