July 13, 2007

FKEC Hosts Keyswide Sustain-Ability Conference

FKEC recently hosted the first meeting for the Keyswide Sustain-Ability Project at the Marathon office. FKEC is a founding member of the Green Living and Energy Education organization that convened the meeting. The Sustain-Ability Project is part of GLEE's ongoing effort to assist Keys communities in becoming more efficient and technologically advanced in our use of water, electricity, fuels, transportation, building materials and more.

The Sustain-Ability Project aims to hold quarterly meetings with experts on subjects requested by its participants. The project's strengths include economy of scale, cross-pollination of ideas and new projects, as well combining efforts for increased funding opportunities.

FKEC's Chief Operating Officer John Stuart, Environmental Affairs Manager Dr. Deb Shaw, and Member Service Representative T.J. Patterson spoke on such topics as FKEC's recent switch to biodiesel fuel; the free energy audits FKEC performs for its members; and how the co-op offers interconnection to its power grid for solar homes through net-metering.

Stuart also sited three major approaches FKEC is taking to support sustainability. The first area, corporate responsibility, includes activities like switching to biodiesel fuel and supporting GLEE. In the second area, responsibility to the members, FKEC will continue to provide consumer services such as free energy audits, the trade-a-tree program, free mulch and free recycling bins. The final approach is a long range plan
to implement a demand-side management program to help keep FKEC healthy while supporting energy conservation.

Approximately 50 people attended the meeting, including officials from Monroe County, Marathon, Islamorada, Layton, Key Colony Beach and Key Largo, who discussed their plans to move their municipalities in a more environmentally friendly direction.

Attendees included Marathon Mayor Chris Bull, Islamorada Major Dave Boerner, Monroe County Mayor Mario Di Gennaro, Commissioners Sylvia Murphy and George Neugent, Skip Haring from the City of Layton, and Key Colony Beach Major Clyde Burnett.

For more, visit www.Keysglee.com.