PURPOSE: To foster the development of community-owned renewable energy projects in our region.

As a step toward building the necessary energy infrastructure we require to deal with the profound changes that peak oil and global warming portend in our lives, Post Oil Solutions brought together a group of people in October 2006 who are both knowledgeable about and interested in, renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass, hydo, and the like). The Windham Energy Group (WEG) was thus organized.

Over its brief history, WEG has been considering whether to become a 501 c3, a cooperative, and/or to enter a collaborative relationship with Co-op Power of Greenfield, MA. Co-op Power "is a consumer-owned cooperative building sustainable energy resources and rooting capital in the Northeastern US."

At present, the members have decided to be an association, while continuing to explore a relationship with Co-op Power, and to re-visit the question of a 501 c3 when the time seems appropriate.

Examples of Projects Currently Under Consideration:

• a wind power project on Hogback in Marlboro (being pursued)
• Solar Energy Park
• Micro-hydro project
• Energy technology park
• education
• in addition to the Marlboro project, initiating community-supported energy projects (CSEs,), including community inventories of renewable energy sources, in conjunction with town energy coordinators

Anyone interested in further information or participating in WEG should contact Tim Stevenson, info@postoilsolutions.org