United for a Sustainable Maryland hosts Public Forum with Mount Airy Maryland; makes progress in discussions concerning Local Renewable Energy Farm feasibility

U.S. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett made a compelling and passionate case for renewable energy and for sensible yet stringent needs for conservation today in a special Town Hall meeting. The special Forum was called to address rising energy costs and a proposal before the town to embark on a renewable energy farm on municipal land. "We're on the downhill slope of the oil supply now and it is getting harder to extract what remains," Bartlett said. Prices for oil will remain high, as demand exceeds supply, forcing the nation to change its habits and adapt new technologies.

"Utilities now in Maryland are mandated to increase their portfolio mix of Tier One renewable energy sources as of January 1 of 08," said Rebecca Rush, one of the organizers of the Forum. "They will be seeking new partnerships with decentralized and distributed local power producers in the region and our proposal can be a win-win for Mount Airy and for Allegheny Energy."

The panel, including Kai Hagen (Frederick County Commissioner), Gary Nelson (Town Commissioner), Jay Mason of Allegheny Energy, and David Cronin of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA),addressed the practicalities of implementing a town-owned wind-and-solar renewable energy-producing farm on a large tract of town-owned land. "The town is considering the proposal and the collaboration of groups that is preparing this plan will be heard before the Parks and Recreation Commission in January 2008," stated Councilman Nelson.

Future Forums are being planned at this time by United for a Sustainable Maryland. Fax is 301-371-9854.