Making Exeter Sustainable
Exeter has consistently been recognized as a progressive community for our proactive land use management. We aim to continue this trend with more focused effort to further improve our sustainability, and highlight some of those initiatives below. We recognize we are only part of the picture and that we all as individuals have an important role to play in this effort. As such, we also highlight steps we can all take as individuals to support this initiative.
~ making exeter sustainable ~
Solar Array Latest News:
The Town of Exeter has executed a contract with ReVision Energy to construct a 1.77-megawatt solar array at the Cross Rd. Landfill site. The executed contract is available below. Once constructed, a facility of this size has the capacity to offset 92% of the Town’s current electricity use for municipal operation, turning this Brownfields site from a liability, to an asset.
While we recognize that we still have more to do to achieve our goal of a resilient and sustainable community, it is important to share successes along Exeter's Path to Resilience. Here is an overview of some of Exeter's accomplishments.
This project, funded through the National League of Cities, and organized by the NH Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (https://www.nhcaw.org/) offers an overview of Exeter's climate resilience accomplishments over the last 10 years.
Video Credit: Liz Durfee, EF | Design & Planning, LLC
Rising sea levels, storm surges and altered weather regimes make our community susceptible in many ways to the changing climate. Through our planning efforts we have been, and will continue to incorporate climate resilient recommendations in a variety of ways.
The information below was pulled together by the Exeter Energy Committee to inform residents of Exeter about the available rebates and tax credits related to energy and sustainability.
In October 2020, we hosted a Climate Workshop to provide an overview of key climate related resources and help staff and board members envision how to use them in their respective roles. The resources are linked below. This workshop was made possible through assistance by UNH Cooperative Extension and NH Sea Grant, funded, in part, by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act in conjunction with the NH Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program.
In 2020, Exeter was selected as one of 18 mentor organization across New England, to host a UNH Sustainability Fellow. Rachel Nadolny joined us and prepared the attached Municipal Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report. We are thankful for our partnership with the UNH Sustainability Institute, the opportunity to work with Rachel, and look forward to implementing these recommendations.
In 2018, in collaboration with Rockingham Planning Commission, Exeter hosted a Climate Open House aimed at informing residents on our climate resiliency efforts.
Mission: To guide the development of sustainability policies and practices for the Town of Exeter that simultaneously promote a healthy environment, strong community connections, and economic vitality; including the establishment of the Town of Exeter Sustainability Office.
The purpose of the Energy Committee is to review various energy programs available to the Town of Exeter. The committee may make recommendations to the Select Board and town meeting for potential implementation.
As a municipality, we are only part of the picture. That is why, first and foremost we believe that sustainability starts with actions we personally take in our own lives.
Various committees in Exeter, NH talk about what they're doing for sustainability, conservation, and other green initiatives.
Supporting Documents
Mr. Fox Composting Flyer (209 KB) 