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Cape & Islands Renewable Energy Collaborative (CIRenew)
Who We Are
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What We Do
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News & Resources
CIGoGreen Guide
"Green Pages" Business Directory, Sustainable Energy Calendar, Energy Action Plans, and more ...

Greg Watson speaks on state policy on 5/21 at Waquoit Bay Reserve
Biofuel, food, and climate change issues discussed at CCNS on 4/23
Geothermal Heating & Cooling addressed at WHRC on 3/18
Platinum LEED Home in Truro featured on 2/27 at CCNS
Regional Energy Action Plan released on 2/5 by CIRenew participants
Making Waves: Harnessing the Ocean's Power at CCCC on 1/16
… Municipal wind project issues addressed on 12/14
Wind Power & Wildlife: Missing Links explored at 11/14 meeting
Rep. Matt Patrick, panel on green power covered in October
Benefits of energy cooperatives featured at 9/19 meeting
5/18 workshop helps towns, schools go green

Cape & Islands Energy Information Clearinghouse
Electricity 101, Tips for Increasing Efficiency & Using Renewables, and more ...


CIRenew - Promoting a Sustainable Energy Future for Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket

The Cape & Islands Renewable Energy Collaborative (CIRenew, formerly known as CIREC) was founded in 2000 to bring together diverse individuals and organizations with common interest in achieving a sustainable energy future, both locally and globally.

CIRenew is a participatory collaborative engaging representatives from advocacy groups, research centers, businesses, energy service providers, and educational institutions based in the Cape & Islands region, as well as officials from local, regional, state, and federal agencies. CIRenew also is the local chapter of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). Members of the general public and professionals are encouraged to join CIRenew and the larger NESEA community in addressing energy-related challenges and creating a better future.

Announcing CIGoGreen, an Energy Action Plan for the Cape & Islands
The time for debate about energy issues is over. Now, we must act - at the individual, community, and regional levels - to increase energy independence while reducing our carbon footprint and strengthening our economy.

In February 2008, CIRenew participants issued CIGoGreen: A Call to Action & Report to the Community. This regional energy action plan pursues ambitious goals for the year 2020 established through a "Beyond Cape Wind" planning process begun in 2005. It reflects continuing stakeholder dialogues, as well as issues and needs identified in a series of meetings held with community leaders and municipal officials during 2007. It specifies energy action plans for residents and visitors, businesses and organizations, students and schools, agencies and officials, and communities. It also details the 2008 priorities of CIRenew participants as we seek to help you make progress.

Visit cigogreen.org to get more information on the CIGoGreen campaign - and to take action!

Collaborative Goals
CIRenew is a nonprofit, participatory collaborative with an overall objective of maximizing benefits and minimizing adverse impacts associated with energy supply and use in the Cape & Islands region.

Cape Cod  
Cape Cod and the islands. LANDSAT image.
 
Through CIRenew, individuals and organizations participate in research, outreach, education, planning, and other activities focused on expanding the role of renewable resources in meeting local energy requirements and in improving economic, environmental, and social conditions in Cape & Islands communities. These activities are designed to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future by encouraging first the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices and then the use of renewable energy.

CIRenew helps build partnerships and promote coordinated action but, as a collective entity, does not take positions on individual renewable energy projects. In fact, CIRenew members, participants, and supporters have varied perspectives on how—and how fast—local communities and larger society should transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable resources.
    Underlying the diverse perspectives of CIRenew members, participants, and supporters are the following common goals:
    
  • To build public awareness of the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency
  • To provide the public, communities, and stakeholder groups with an informed basis for weighing the tradeoffs associated with present and future options for energy supply and use
  • To encourage inclusive, expansive, transparent, and coordinated community planning processes in the Cape & Islands region
  • In pursuit of these goals, CIRenew members, participants, and supporters interact on a regular basis to share information, discuss local and regional issues, and pursue collaborative activities.
       
    For questions or information, please contact the following:

    Programs & Events
    (Events page)

    Virginia Ryan
    Housing Assistance Corp.
    508.771.5400

    Membership
    (Membership page; Membership form)

    Joan Muller
    Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
    508.457.0495 x107

    Objectives & Activities
    (Activities page)

    Chris Powicki
    Water Energy & Ecology Information Services
    508.362.9599

    To join the electronic mailing list for future events:

    Richard Lawrence
    Cape Cod Community
    College
    rlawrence@capecod.edu

    Questions should be directed to these individuals. Mail should be directed to
    CIRenew
    c/o Cape & Islands Self-Reliance
    23A Edgerton Drive
    North Falmouth, MA 02556

     
       
    Updated February 2008