We’re having lots of great conversations internally about the strategic role of 50 Miles Street to NESEA.

For the uninitiated, “50 Miles Street” is the address of the NESEA building. Unlike many nonprofit organizations of our size, NESEA actually owns its building. We have owned it since the mid-1990s, as a result of an agreement with the City of Greenfield, MA, which also led to NESEA creating the Greenfield Energy Park.

From what I gather, people have been talking about making the building a showcase for energy efficiency and renewables for as long as we’ve owned it! Several members have initiated studies and made proposals as to what we should do, and in the mid-1990’s, the board even entertained completing a capital campaign to raise funds for a retrofit of the “Northeast Sustainability Center” at NESEA.

Lately, a number of NESEA members have again taken up the torch! Last fall, Nancy Hazard arranged for a comprehensive energy efficiency audit of the building, and since then NESEA board member John (JJ) Jacobson has completed a more comprehensive review, including:
• Reviewing all the previous studies of the building
• Talking with the city planner’s office and local businesses about anticipated economic development in Greenfield
• Reviewing the financials, including our utility and building maintenance expenses, our rental income vs. market rates, and other related information.

JJ is planning to present his findings to the NESEA board later this fall. The next step will likely be to establish a NESEA work group, comprised of board members, NESEA members and staff, to develop (and hopefully ultimately implement!) a strategic plan for the building.

So what’s your feedback. What would a Northeast Sustainability Center mean to you?