Cranberry Isles Sustainable Community Initiative Fellow Placement Opportunity

On October 16, the Town of Cranberry Isles convened the first meeting of the Islesford Sustainability Initiative.  Forty people attended a dessert and brainstorming session that focused on past, present, and future efforts to ensure the sustainability of the islands' vibrant community and environment. Current Island Fellow Amanda Ravenhill facilitated a two-hour session to understand the needs of the community and discuss ideas on how to make the Cranberry Isles sustainable.

While there are significant differences between Islesford and Great Cranberry, and the islands have different needs, the two communities share many concerns.  The Sustainability Initiative will become a two-island venture, complimentary to the Great Cranberry Island Revitalization Project and other community efforts such as the Cranberry Isles Realty Trust. 

• Water Resources Study - In connection with early work on the Town of Cranberry Isles (TCI) Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan), the decision was made by the committee, and adopted by the Board of Selectmen (BOS), that a detailed study be undertaken to better understand the islands' drinking-water resources.  The study will involve hiring a consultant to assess the hydrology of the islands, test wells, and map all wells and septic systems.  The Fellow would be expected to drive this project and work closely with the Comp Plan Committee.  Time permitting, the Fellow will complete the mapping, see ‘GIS Mapping' below.

• Land Use Plan (Shorefront and Inland Zoning) - The Land Use Plan is the next step in the Comp Plan process and will be driven by Eric Dyer (former Island Fellow and now TCI Facilities Supervisor) and the Comp Plan Committee.  The Fellow will work provide support and motivation.

• GIS Mapping - There is other GIS mapping which has to be done on the Islands - notably maps of all of harbors and mooring locations.  Time permitting the Fellow will be available for this effort.

• College of the Atlantic (COA) Collaboration- The Town of the Cranberry Isles (TCI) could benefit greatly from close collaboration with COA, particularly in dealing with environmental issues.  The Fellow and community members will endeavor to establish a collaborative relationship with COA with the following goals: to be neighborly, making students feel welcome and a part of the broader MDI community; to understand and utilize, to the extent possible, the resources that COA has in regards to sustainability to assist TCI in its efforts to make TCI a "greener" place; to work closely with their GIS department and get students and staff involved with the mapping projects in TCI.

• Energy-Efficiency Education - From tax cuts to new technology, there is much information regarding home energy efficiency to teach islanders. The Fellow will research and present this information to islanders through postings on island bulletin boards, the Internet, and the ferries.  The Fellow will continue to participate in monthly sustainability meetings to share this research and brainstorm priorities and actions.  The Fellow will also work in collaboration with the teachers to develop an energy-efficiency curriculum at the school. 

• Energy Audits - As fuel prices rise and global warming becomes more noticable, the impact and cost of electrifying and heating our homes and buildings increases. The Fellow will research and assist in the implementation of an island-wide Energy Audit to reduce islanders carbon footprints and save them money.  The audit would focus on efficiency of heating systems, tightening houses against winter winds, and upgrading appliances and furnaces.

• Promotion of Maine "Green Energy"-Maine Interfaith Power and Light offers clean, renewable energy to Bangor Hydro customers.  Many year-round and seasonal residents are not fully aware of this option, its implications, and its comparative cost. The Fellow will educate islanders with the goal of having 50% or more of islanders switch to this green energy option within two years. 

• Food Coops and Island farming - There is some farming on the islands, and several homes on the islands have gardens where produce is sold during the summer.  But stores on the island have not done well, due to the lack of population. While bulk purchase of food is conducted on Islesford, these efforts could be improved.  The Fellow will look into the possibilities of increasing the amount of food grown on island as well as the efficiency of the co-op buying. A joint cooperative effort between the two populated islands will be researched and considered.

• Supporting (and Sponsoring) local Alternative Energy Projects- Based on available wind data, wind power is an attractive alternate form of electricity for TCI.  Community members are currently studying the feasibility of a demonstration, wind-generation project for TCI, to be built in 2008. This project would be done working closely with the town. The Fellow would support these efforts through research, networking, grant writing and project management.

• Establish (and Publicizing) Community Goals and Commitments relating to being "Green" - TCI community members, both year-round and seasonal, are concerned with the current state of the global and local environment. The town is dedicated to commitments, goals and actions that will make TCI a more sustainable place to live and visit.  The current Fellow spearheaded an effort to develop support for a warrant stating this commitment, which was adopted at the Town Meeting in March 2008. Prior to the town meeting, the warrant was drafted by the fellow and presented at public hearings on both islands.  The next Fellow will bring this commitment to the forefront and work with the community to realize this goal.