14th energy fair draws hundreds

CANTON — The 14th annual North Country Sustainable Energy Fair provided a smorgasbord of opportunities and ideas this weekend on how to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. From farming to photovoltaics, the event attracted hundreds once again for its workshops and hands-on demonstrations.

"Any strategy that says that we don't have to change anything about our lifestyle isn't going to work," author Sharon Astyk told an audience in SUNY Canton's Miller Campus Center. "If you don't want to be in a big hole, stop digging it."

Community Energy Services once again organized classes and panel discussions on weatherization, geothermal, biofuels, alternative vehicles, gardening, wind power and more.

Robert Ellison told attendees about the pitfalls and pleasures of getting into the solar and wind installation business.

"This is an industry that started with a bunch of hippies who thought, 'This would be cool; let's do this.' Then came the backyard tinkerers like me. Now we need to become a legitimate industry," he said.

The energy fair offered a new resource center for people seeking green jobs. Volunteer Klaus D. Proemm, who is a jobs program specialist for St. Lawrence County's One-Stop Career Center, said he was able to line up three interviews for job-seekers with environmental employers as of Sunday morning.

"Green building is one thing people are really interested in. People are asking about all different things, from the planning field to research jobs. Weatherization will hopefully ramp up in the next six months in the county," Mr. Proemm said.

Canton resident Dustin J. Bowman was both a volunteer and one of the job-seekers checking out opportunities at the green jobs table.

"A lot of people just want to learn the basics and save money. You can see it in their eyes that they're taking it all in, not so much with a sense of morality as much as wanting to figure out how they can protect their family. They want to know, 'How do I do my part to secure the future?'" Mr. Bowman said.

Terry M. Rafferty of Schenectady was at the fair for the first time to find out about new energy technology. She plans to build a house with solar photovoltaic panels and a masonry heater in Hermon.

"It's always been my dream to have a house on the water. It turns out the only way that's affordable is to go off-grid. I'm not afraid to do something different," she said.

Neither are James S. Merkel, Ross M. Scatchard, Susan Cutting and Tyler Durham. They biked 350 miles from White River Junction, Vt., to the fair to raise awareness about a solution to turning the tide on climate change — reducing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million.

"I've been learning tons. There's a lot more movement and excitement behind these issues than I thought. People are really talking about how to live more sensibly," Mr. Scatchard said.

Author Jerry Jenkins explained his in-depth study of how the Adirondack Park could become energy-independent using renewable sources by 2029.

"Could we have the Adirondacks, where there are few people spread over a large area — or St. Lawrence County or the north country, for that matter — get off fossil fuel?" Mr. Jenkins said. "It won't be because any one person figures out how to do it; it will be because it's possible. If it can't be done here, where else can it be done?"

Coordinator Patricia M. Greene said the fair and the 17 home tours attracted a lot of newcomers this year.

"We always get incredible curious people and we love that," she said. "It's amazing. This really is a community fair."