Which committee is which?

York residents can be excused if they are a bit confused about two similar-sounding committees in town, the York Energy Efficiency Committee and the York Energy Efficiency Steering Committee. York resident and reporter Deborah McDermott wrote an article in the September 9 York Weekly that should help clear up the confusion.

McDermott, who is also a member of the Steering Committee, includes this synopsis of the two groups:

Last spring, the selectmen formed the York Energy Efficiency Steering Committee, a long name for a small group of people working to make the town of York more sustainable. Our mission is to implement the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, which the selectmen have signed.

Essentially, the town has pledged to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in all municipal and school operations, and we are charged with figuring out how best to do that. Voters generously agreed to set aside $100,000 last May that will be used in this effort.

The Energy Efficiency Steering Committee is a five-member board, with two very active alternates. Representatives from the selectmen and school committee also serve.

The York Energy Efficiency Committee is a group of private citizens, formed in 2005. Its members are doing wonderful things, but they are not affiliated with the town. So we’d like to “steer” you into thinking of us differently. When you read about the York Energy Efficiency “Steering” Committee, that’s the town group.

Read the rest of the article, which includes brief introductions of the current members of the Steering Committee.

And to be absolutely clear, this website, YorkGoesGreen.org, speaks for YEEC and not the Steering Committee, even though news of either committee may be found here. For official information about the Steering Committee, go to the committee web page on the town site, or for meeting schedules, check the Monthly Meeting Calendar at http://www.yorkmaine.org/.