Grey Goes Green, Inc. - Better Decisions. Better Living.

January 22, 2008

The Joint Meeting of the Mount Airy MD Parks/Recreation Commission and the Beautification Committee was held Tuesday night, rescheduled from last week due to a snow storm.  This meeting lasted until 11: pm because of an extremely full agenda.  We thank the Commissioners and Committee members and members of the public for their attention at such a late hour.  Our abbreviated overview and spirited question and answer period probably did not do justice to the project.  And the late hour perhaps left people with unanswered questions about the scope and social, civic AND economic benefits available in both the short and long-run.  We look forward to sharing a full presentation --- perhaps in modules ---- at another time...and at a more relaxed pace! 

Below are just some of the key points and recommendations proposed for Windy Ridge Park by Grey Goes Green.  Note:  a companion Power Point Presentation is available.

#1 - Transform an Idle Asset Into a Vital Community Resource for All Ages -- In phases and  in concert with a unifying MASTER PLAN.
#2 -  Use a portion of the land as host to a combination of wind and solar energy production resources. 
#3    Invest in a renewable/clean energy production system sufficiently large to create a permanent revenue stream that will do -- at least -- the following:

            a.  Pay debt service for the wind/solar "farmette" (also combine grants, low/no interest loans to shorten the payback period)

            b.  Pay for a park attraction, a LEED certified community education/resource building.
            c.  Invest in environmental programs, land stewardship, interpreter/educator positions and related fixed operating costs
            d.  Offset electric costs incurred by the Town (lights, wastewater, buildings) 
            e.  Dedicate certain off-grid power resources for an emergency/disaster safe-haven project. 
            f.   Use planned excess revenue to fund other Town public benefit and civic operations (other parks; trails; recreation, etc.)

We also are offering two recommendations:
            a.  That theTown apply for the Maryland Energy Administration Anemometer Loan Program to assess suffiency and dependability of wind as an economic (versus solely an educational resource) at "Windy Ridge"
            b  -  That Grey Goes Green be engaged to manage a series of Charettes among stakeholders in the community about the options presented and call for other proposals for uses at Windy Ridge Park.

The Windy Ridge Park CONCEPT/MODEL we have developed could serve a variety of Town and Regional educational, environmental and economic leadership purposes and we look forward to continuing this open and dynamic dialogue.

Please go to the TAB "Shades of Green"  to learn more about our proposal to Mount Airy and to other potential customers.