PCCS and Congressman Delahunt to Co-Sponsor Climate Change & Renewable Energy Forums

Provincetown Town Manager Keith Bergman
and former Vice President Al Gore

(Provincetown, Cape Cod, MA) – Preparing for climate changes and exploring renewable energy options for the future are subjects of three forums the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS) and Congressman William Delahunt will co-sponsor in October. The first forum in the series will feature Provincetown Town Manager Keith Bergman who will deliver an illustrated presentation on global warming on Tuesday, October 17, at 7 p.m., at the Center’s Marine Lab at 5 Holway Avenue.

Bergman is one of 50 people who just returned from Al Gore’s global climate change training program, and is among the first on the Cape to join this movement to educate Americans about global warming and stir them to action through the former vice president’s Climate Project. He was nominated to participate by Congressman Bill Delahunt.

A second public forum, this one on community-based wind energy, will be held on Tuesday, October 24, at 7 p.m. at the Marine Lab, and is also co-sponsored by PCCS and Congressman Delahunt. John MacLeod, former manager of the Hull Municipal Light Plant that uses wind energy, is among the panelists. Hull is developing a new wind farm there that, when completed, will enable the community to draw 100% of its electricity from wind energy. The current cost of electricity to Hull residents is only 12.5 cents a kilowatt hour.

The Provincetown Board of Selectmen has applied for assistance from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to explore the development of wind energy similar to Hull’s efforts. Keith Bergman, Provincetown’s Town Manager, will discuss the town’s vision involving the community in this effort.

A third forum at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31, will feature a discussion of the Cape and Islands Renewable Fuels Partnership, an effort organized by Congressman Delahunt’s office and Provincetown Town Manager Keith Bergman. The Partnership was convened to encourage Cape Cod towns to adopt the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement adopted from the Kyoto Protocols, an international treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions, and to build local demand for the use of renewable fuels such as bio-diesel and ethanol throughout the region.

PCCS Executive Director Peter Borrelli will deliver opening remarks at all three events and will be among the experts available to answer questions from the public and media. All three events, co-sponsored by PCCS and Congressman Delahunt, begin at 7 p.m. The forums are free and open to the public but reservations are recommended to ensure a seat. Seating is limited. Phone 508.487.3622, extension 104, to register.