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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 00:45

Central Sierra Connect Helps Rural Counties Gain High-Speed Internet

Amador County - ATCAA Central Sierra Connect, a regional project including Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, has completed work on an 18-month, $250,000 project to help rural counties gain 100 percent coverage for high speed internet and encourage wider use of technology by all residents. The project is funded by a grant from the California Emerging Technology Fund. “Ultimately, we all want high-speed Internet to be as universal as telephone service and easily accessible for all residents, including low-income, senior and disabled people,” said Project Manager Michelle Shelton, adding: “That is vital to the future of our communities.” Shelton will present the Amador County Board of Supervisors a project update and the Final Report and facilitate a community forum hosted by Volcano Communications to present a broadband update and survey information for Amador County residents. Currently, project leaders estimate about 45 percent of households in the region have access to high speed Internet, and many areas have only very high priced options available. An action plan was created to seek funding for a variety of projects including adding more Neighborhood Information Centers at libraries and other public sites, expanding telemedicine and improving the region’s “Infonet” websites for on-line “information and referral” services. Each county contributed time and funding to the project, and each will be able to develop its own more detailed plans for future projects using the data collected. The community forum to discuss this five-county project takes place next Tuesday, February 9th from 6 to 7 pm at the Amador Health and Human Services Building. More information is available online at www.centralsierraconnect.org. A TSPN TV Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 00:52

Supervisors to Discuss Sutter Hill Regional Transit Center Solar Project

Amador County – The majority of the discussion at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday surrounding federal appropriations requests centered on a solar energy project at the new Sutter Hill Regional Transit Center. Amador County Transportation Commission (ACTC) Executive Director Charles Field said the project is considered the final phase in the construction of the new facility located off Bowers Drive on Sutter Hill. He said solar shade structures will be installed over the facility’s Park and Ride lot to provide premium shading for commuters as well as solar energy for public buildings and electric cars. Field said there is not currently a need for a charging station for electrical vehicles, but ACTC is anticipating a need in the future as electric vehicles become more prominent. He said the solar energy output is estimated at 105,000 kilowatt hours and extra power will likely be generated. County Lobbyist David French, speaking via phone, said this clean energy is estimated to offset 140,000 pounds of CO2 emissions. Supervisor John Plasse questioned how French determined those statistics. French said they were determined by engineers and he could return with more information. Field said that if funds are obtained, the transit center project is estimated to be completed in 2011. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 00:54

Supervisors Approve Major Federal Appropriations Requests

Amador County- The Amador County Board of Supervisors discussed and approved this year’s federal appropriations requests during their meeting on Tuesday. County Lobbyist David French, speaking via conference call from Washington D.C., emphasized the difficulty in securing funding because the “difficult economic times faced by the state and the county are also evident on a federal level.” County Administrative Officer Terri Daly said French recently identified an underutilized grant source which awarded the county approximately $465,000 for emitters in emergency vehicles “so they can change traffic signals.” Amador County Transportation Director Charles Field outlined the current projects under consideration, which are intersection improvements at Prospect Drive and Highway 88, a solar project for the new Amador County Transit Center and general improvements for American’s with Disability Act (ADA) access. Field recommended intersection relocation at Prospect Drive and Ridge Road and the transit center project to be nominated for funding because both are near completion of design, right of way acquisition, permits and federal environmental clearance. The Supervisors previously authorized submittal of these projects last year. Field said this year’s request would be similar, except some component costs have changed. He said the solar shade project is estimated to cost $825,000. He said $125,000 of that will need to be provided by ACTC or cost savings. French said the county’s willingness to provide a portion of the funding “shows a local commitment that you’re not just depending on the federal government.” Field recommended a request of $700,000 for the intersection relocation, but warned that the project may need to be phased if all funding sources do not become available. The total estimated cost of that project is $3,567,793. As for ADA funding, French said it was likely that some money could be obtained for improvements throughout the county. He said the county’s pursuit of this funding reflects positively because it “shows that the county is proactive, rather than reactive and forced into requirements.” When asked about the feasibility of obtaining money for all three requests, French said he is optimistic but “hesitant to make any crystal ball forecasts.” The Supervisors approved all three appropriations requests. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 00:56

Buena Vista Biomass Power Plant Gets Support from High Levels

Amador County- The Amador County Board of Supervisors discussed and approved this year’s federal appropriations requests during their meeting on Tuesday. County Lobbyist David French, speaking via conference call from Washington D.C., emphasized the difficulty in securing funding because the “difficult economic times faced by the state and the county are also evident on a federal level.” County Administrative Officer Terri Daly said French recently identified an underutilized grant source which awarded the county approximately $465,000 for emitters in emergency vehicles “so they can change traffic signals.” Amador County Transportation Director Charles Field outlined the current projects under consideration, which are intersection improvements at Prospect Drive and Highway 88, a solar project for the new Amador County Transit Center and general improvements for American’s with Disability Act (ADA) access. Field recommended intersection relocation at Prospect Drive and Ridge Road and the transit center project to be nominated for funding because both are near completion of design, right of way acquisition, permits and federal environmental clearance. The Supervisors previously authorized submittal of these projects last year. Field said this year’s request would be similar, except some component costs have changed. He said the solar shade project is estimated to cost $825,000. He said $125,000 of that will need to be provided by ACTC or cost savings. French said the county’s willingness to provide a portion of the funding “shows a local commitment that you’re not just depending on the federal government.” Field recommended a request of $700,000 for the intersection relocation, but warned that the project may need to be phased if all funding sources do not become available. The total estimated cost of that project is $3,567,793. As for ADA funding, French said it was likely that some money could be obtained for improvements throughout the county. He said the county’s pursuit of this funding reflects positively because it “shows that the county is proactive, rather than reactive and forced into requirements.” When asked about the feasibility of obtaining money for all three requests, French said he is optimistic but “hesitant to make any crystal ball forecasts.” The Supervisors approved all three appropriations requests. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 01:16