August 27, 2013, in the meeting room of the Jaslo City Hall the second Energy Lab was organized within RENERGY project, co-financed by the EU European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg IVC programme. The meeting brought together 27 participants: representatives of local authorities from 12 municipalities, from Gorlice District and the Union of the Wisłoka River Basin Communes and PNEC. This time the lab was conducted around the theme of regional strategies for energy-conscious communities, especially about case studies activities.
Starting the meeting, Jaslo Mayor Mr. Andrzej Czernecki, stressed the importance of energy manager function and presented the main activities of Jaslo energy sector: inventory of supply contracts for municipal buildings, the submission of an application to the SOWA programme and the project Installation of renewable energy systems on public buildings and private homes in municipalities belonging to the Union of the Wisłoka River Basin Communes. The mayor stressed that important in energy management activities is cooperation between various departments.
The presentation of RENERGY progress was presented by Marcin Łojek, project manager. He emphasized the importance of case studies:
- the creation of energy policy in the province of Potenza;
- engaging the local community on the example of Slagelse;
- building local market and renewable energy business support in the region of Tulln.
For a better understanding of these activities there were presented relations from study visits to Denmark, Austria and Italy. Participants were asked to transfer of energy innovations to place them in the project Newsletters. There was also a request for participants to prepare proposals and recommendations for future Energy Labs.
Then a presentation about support in building local energy policy provided by the Association of Municipalities Polish Network "Energie Cités" was presented by Maria Stankiewicz, director of the Association. In her speech, Director Stankiewicz stressed the importance of the Covenant of Mayors and the implementation of sustainable energy action plans.
Daniel Markowicz, chief specialist of Development Department in Gorlice District presented the activities under VIS NOVA project, highlighted objectives of the project and the results of a SWOT analysis - energy potential of the district. It was also an opportunity to showcase other actions of District: retrofitting of municipal buildings, use of geothermal energy, sub-regional programs.
This presentation started debate on the economic viability of communities and opportunities for investment in geothermal installations. Participants agreed that, without the financial support (eg through government programmes) investments in the field of renewable energy sources involve a high risk due to lack of profitability. This is very important while looking at the municipality as a body responsible for the economical management of public funds.
Bogusław Pięta told about the efforts to improve energy efficiency in Jaslo. Replacing lamps, reconstruction of power plants, retrofitting of municipal buildings and construction of renewable energy installations, as well as no-cost management actions implemented by Jaslo City are a good omen to achieve those objectives.
Head of the Department of Planning at the City Hall in Debica, Wieslaw Stanaszek, suggest gathering of data on energy use in municipal buildings in Jaslo and making a benchmarking among similar function objects. These results should be available for managers of these buildings.
In a recent speech that day, Maria Lignar, director of the Union of the Wisłoka River Basin Communes, presented ways of involving local communities in activities that improve energy efficiency. In addition to the "Installation of renewable energy systems on public buildings and private homes in the municipalities belonging to the Association of Municipalities Basin Wisłoka" project, where trained more than 1,600 people, she also showed actions such as information and education campaign on renewable energy sources, including visits of "domestic advisers" to residents in 20 municipalities of the Union and Sunny Days with the Union of the Wisłoka River Basin Communes, which took place in may this year.
Summing up the meeting, participants agreed that stable national energy policy is a very important factor for the development of the renewable energy market. The second factor is a bottom-up initiative - the activities of local governments create a local energy policy, and the efficient and rational use of energy must be a priority in municipality actions.
Jaslo Mayor thanked for participating and closed the meeting.
Presentations (Polish language only):
- Realizacja projektu RENERGY, studia przypadków, doświadczenia partnerów projektu , Marcin ŁOJEK, Kierownik Projektu, Stowarzyszenie Gmin Polska Sieć „Energie Cités”
- Lokalna polityka energetyczna - wsparcie Stowarzyszenia Gmin Polska Sieć „Energie Cités” , Maria STANKIEWICZ, Dyrektor Biura, Stowarzyszenie Gmin Polska Sieć „Energie Cités”
- Rozwój energetyczny regionu na przykładzie projektu VIS NOVA , Daniel MARKOWICZ, Główny Specjalista w Wydziale Rozwoju, Starostwo Powiatowe w Gorlicach
- Poprawa efektywności energetycznej w Jaśle , Bogusław PIĘTA, Energetyk Miejski, Urząd Miasta w Jaśle
- Angażowanie społeczności lokalnych w działania poprawiające efektywność energetyczną , Maria LIGNAR, Dyrektor Biura, Związek Gmin Dorzecza Wisłoki
