Derry ready to go green

Derry

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March 12, 2008

By Eric Parry

DERRY — Derry's going green.

Last week, the Town Council approved a new ordinance that encourages the town to purchase hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles and adhere to green building standards.

Councilor Brent Carney, who authored the ordinance, presented it to the council a little over a month ago as a means of helping the town save money as well as to become more environmentally friendly.

"We're certainly a leader in the state because now we have this," said Carney.

According to the ordinance, when the town purchases or leases a vehicle, preference should be given to alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles.

However, emergency-response vehicles like police cruisers and ambulances could be exempt from this prioritization, when "alternative fuel vehicles do not provide the performance needed to meet the needs of a specific department," according to the ordinance.

A staff report provided by Town Administrator Gary Stenhouse said hybrid vehicles may be feasible for the town's Health, Assessing and Code Enforcement departments, but would not work for other departments.

When remodeling or constructing new buildings, the town will now be forced to adhere to United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standard.

However, the ordinance can be overridden at any time by the council if there is two-thirds majority.

The new ordinance won't require the town to purchase any new vehicles or begin any new construction, but would require town officials to be more environmentally conscious when projects are being considered.

Stenhouse will also have to review the town's fleet and property on a yearly basis to see if anything could be updated to a cheaper, more environmentally friendly option.

Carney said this could lead to the town making changes like using solar powered stop lights and street lights if they prove to be cheaper and more energy efficient.