With a two-year, $281,220 federal grant in hand, six communities, including Madison, are now advertising for a regional energy manager, a position they will share as each town seeks ways to reduce its energy costs. Madison is the town serving as grant administrator.

The towns of Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison, and Westbrook have formed a regional energy committee to oversee the program and the position. According to Frank Altieri, a member of Madison's Energy Committee, a steering committee has been formed that will include the chief executive officer from each town or his or her designee.

"We expect this position to help all our towns go a long way toward reducing energy costs and setting us onto a long-term plan for responsible energy conservation," Altieri said.

It was Madison's committee that initiated the federal grant application. When the committee asked neighboring towns if they would like to join in the effort, it found an immediate, positive response.

Dean Plummer, chair of Madison's committee, "shepherded the grant application through the state process and up to the point where we are now advertising for applicants and he deserves a great deal of credit," Altieri added.

The towns are seeking a regional energy manager who will lead the planning and management of energy conservation projects within each town "taking full advantage of incentive programs and other sources of project funding to reduce town energy expenditures and their associated contribution to climate change."

In its request for qualifications, in essence the job posting, the committee asks for a person "with the ability to craft an energy management vision for each municipality and region" and to develop "a comprehensive energy baseline for each town's recent energy usage."

The towns are also asking the regional energy manager to "develop an initial set of two to three energy efficient improvement projects that can quickly be implemented at low net cost and return high savings."

The position will be a consultant with a two-year contract. Of the total grant awarded, approximately $250,000 has been allotted to cover personnel costs for the two-year period.

"This will not be a public employee position. No fringe benefits will be a part of this contract. Some business expenses, such as purchase of a laptop and cell phone and business travel, are included under the grant," Altieri explained.

The regional steering committee is looking for candidates with degrees in electrical, mechanical, environmental, or architectural engineering and with five to nine years' experience in energy management. The person should also be a certified energy manager. He or she should have experience conducting energy audits as well as reviewing design and construction plans, understand building operational systems such as heating and cooling systems, and have a knowledge of energy management systems and energy conservation measures.

The towns are also hoping to find a manager who is aware of additional funding sources to help carry out projects and who can write successful grant applications.

Candidates' qualifications must be submitted to Human Resources Manager Rita Umile by Monday, July 26. Umile is assisting the steering committee in its search.

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What goals do you have for the regional energy manager? Share them with the community by leaving a comment below this story.

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What goals do you have for the regional energy manager? Share them with the community by leaving a comment below this story.