Western Massachusetts Wind Energy Symposium

Berkshire Regional Planning Comission, Franklin Regional Council  of Governments and the Mass. College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) are pleased to be  able to work with Macalester College,  St. Paul MN, in offering a day-long  event aimed at better understanding public attitudes towards various forms of  wind energy development in their communities. 

The event is scheduled to  occur on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at MCLA in North Adams.   The  project team seeks to recruit participants based on local demographics, aiming  for balance in education, age, income, and gender. The  event, involving roughly 30 residents from Berkshire and Franklin counties, will discuss the opportunities and impacts of wind  energy development and engage in interactive wind energy scenario planning.

The following towns are being targeted for participation:  Florida, Savoy, Windsor, Peru, , North Adams,  Adams, Cheshire, Washington,  Becket, Lanesborough and New Ashford  (Berkshire County) and Monroe, Rowe, Heath, Charlemont, Hawley, Buckland,  Ashfield, Shelburne, Colrain and Leyden (Franklin County), but anyone over the age of 18 is eligible  to apply. 

Participants will receive a $100 stipend for attending the full  day event, and will be provided with meals.  If municipal officials would  like to participate, they should note that they are limited by state ethics  laws from receiving stipends equal to or greater than $50 in value.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the application below.  If you are chosen to participate, you will receive an email or phone call during the last week of June to confirm your availability. 

Deadline for the online application is Monday, June 25, 2012.

Organized by:

Dr. Roopali Phadke
Associate Professor Environmental Studies Department
Macalester College

Judy Wagner

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

Email: jwagner@ berkshireplanning.org