PLYMOUTH, N.H.- An exciting new project designed to help northern New Hampshire communities become more environmentally sustainable while saving money is underway. The Community energy project team is led by North Country Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), Plymouth State University's Center for Rural Partnerships (CfRP), the Northern Forest Center, Coos Economic Development Corporation. The partners are seeking contractors for a community energy project ("Roadmap"), whose goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New Hampshire through a wood biomass heating system.

The project, which has received financial support from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) administered by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, has the goal of creating this decision making tool which will be useful to municipalities, but also subsets of communities such as commercial and residential housing developments said Richard DeMark, USDA Coordinator for the North Country RC&D Area. Demark added that starting today, North country RC&D will be soliciting proposals from qualified consultants to work with the Task Force to create the decision making tool.

The Roadmap will help guide a community (which may be a municipality, educational institution, industrial park, housing project or other candidate) through the host of issues attached to planning for and implementing a district heating and/or combined heat and power system. A successful Roadmap tool will result in greater local/regional energy self reliance, greater ability to contain rising energy costs, provide energy reliability, maintain markets for local wood biomass, provide local economic and social benefits and reduce greenhouse gasses. Thad Guldbrandsen, Director of the CfRP, said the Community Roadmap can help decision-makers improve both the energy efficiency and economy of New Hampshire's North Country.

We have the technology to reduce carbon emissions, improve community well-being, and sustain our natural resources, but communities and consumers are overwhelmed by information," Guldbrandsen said. "This Community Roadmap project will be a valuable tool in helping communities to navigate complex decision-making processes. It will provide reliable information from an impartial source. I'm really excited about it."

The Roadmap Request for Proposals is located at: RRP and Community Roadmap Information .

Allison Grappone, Northern Forest Center program assistant, said the program will be of interest to many North Country municipal and school groups.

"So many communities are interested in district heating for cost savings and environmental reasons," said Grappone. "We want to make it as easy as possible for them to get started by providing information and technical assistance."

The Roadmap project is financially supported by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

A pre-proposal conference shall be conducted December 4, 10 a.m., at US Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest Headquarters, Campton, N.H., exit 27 off I 93, Campton, N.H.

The proposals submission deadline is December 18, at 4:30 p.m. at the office of North Country RC&D.

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu ]]> 11/19/09 http://www.plymouth.edu/news/fullstory.php?number=6753

PSU Business professor Daniel Lee explains the development of the North Country Economic Index at a meeting at Plymouth State University Sept. 28.

PSU's North Country Economic Index presentation was reported across the nation by the Associated Press and NECN in New England.

Plymouth, N.H. - Plymouth State University is developing a new informational tool to help bolster the economy in northern New Hampshire. The North Country Economic Index (NCEI) will be a periodic index containing detailed information about the economic climate in Coos County and northern New Hampshire.

Business professors Daniel Lee and Vedran Lelas say the economic indicators currently available don't offer enough information to base important personal, business or governmental financial decisions on, so they are developing a customized collection of data that will be available free of charge. Lee said everyone who has interest in the North Country can benefit from this project.

"We're going to provide economic indicators that cover the overall economy in the North Country," Lee said. "People buying or selling a home or business, looking for employment or planning major financial moves can all make better informed decisions with this data."

The NCEI includes rooms and meals tax collections, home sales, manufacturing and trade sales, building permits, electricity sales and personal income data.

PSU President Sara Jayne Steen said the NCEI is a great example of the University making a difference with innovation and expertise.

"We offer real world solutions to real world problems," Steen said. "We are serving this region with excellence and we have a special responsibility to the Lakes region and the North Country that we take seriously."

Thad Guldbrandsen, executive director of PSU's Center for Rural Partnership, said the NCEI is part of PSU's goal to provide assistance to the state.

"We have a lot of resources on campus and we want to harness the potential that we have here at PSU to make the region a better place to live. The way to do that is to connect out to the people who need the information," Guldbrandsen said.

The NCEI will initially cover Coos County, but Carroll and Grafton counties will be included in future reports.

The NCEI was developed through a partnership with the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Coos County Outreach Initiative and PSU's Center for Rural Partnerships.

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu

PLYMOUTH, NH -- The rest of the world is starting to recognize what Plymouth residents have long known-Plymouth is an exciting place to live, work, and go to school.

Citing the region's many recreational opportunities National Geographic Adventure magazine has named Plymouth one of the 50 next great adventure towns in the United States in which to live.

"Life in Plymouth is like a master class in recreation," wrote National Geographic journalist Sarah Tuff. "Wedged between Mount Washington Valley and the Granite State's glittering lakes region, this college-meets-covered-bridge depot is home to the new White Mountain Exploration center, with instruction in ski touring, ice climbing, mountain biking, and rock climbing all run by Eastern Mountain Sports."

"When classes aren't in session, recess means kayaking the Pemigewasset River and exploring the 798,562-acre White Mountain National Forest."

"And if working at Plymouth State University or the local hospital doesn't entice you, high-tech and political posts are just 45 minutes south in Concord."

In the article, "Where to Live + Play Now! The fifty next great adventure towns" Plymouth ranks fourth in the east region.

"Plymouth stood out because of its stunning location in New Hampshire," said Tuff about Plymouth's inclusion on the list. "We sought towns that not only have premier access to outdoor recreation and resources, but also forward momentum. New initiatives such as bike paths, outdoor centers, eco-friendly measures and more all played a role in helping us determine the 50 best places to live and play for National Geographic Adventure readers."

Plymouth's inclusion on the National Geographic 50 great adventure towns list isn't the first time the community has been noted for its quality.

Plymouth is also the featured college town for September on collegetownlife.com and listed on the America's Best Bargain Outdoor Towns For Baby Boomers list.

In April Plymouth was the featured New Hampshire Magazine cover story "Why Plymouth Rocks"

The 100 Best Small Towns In America (released in the mid 1990s) ranked Plymouth seventh out of 100 for its quality of life, beautiful location and outdoor recreation.

"Where to Live + Play Now! The fifty next great adventure towns" is in the September issue of National Geographic Adventure magazine, which is on newsstands now or available online at http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com ]]> 9/21/08 http://www.plymouth.edu/news/fullstory.php?number=6429

PLYMOUTH, N.H -Newfound Lake remains one of New Hampshire's cleanest and clearest lakes, and a management plan to keep it that way is making progress.

Every Acre Counts: The Newfound Watershed Master Plan is an exciting, cutting edge project working with diverse stakeholders in developing a master plan for the Newfound Lake watershed.

The effort brings together participants from diverse sectors including the PSU's Center for the Environment, the Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA), the University of New Hampshire, Jeffery Taylor and Associates and underwritten by the Environmental Protection Agency with funds distributed by the N.H. Department of Environmental Services.

The first step in the project was a community survey, led by Dr. Brian Eisenhauer, associate director of the Center for the Environment and assistant professor of sociology at Plymouth State. Area residents in Bristol, Bridgewater, Hebron, Alexandria, Groton, Orange, Danbury, and Plymouth responded to surveys about their perception of Newfound Lake and its future.

"These kinds of activities with towns in our region embody the PSU to serve' mission, not only for the benefit of the region, but for the students to apply their academic knowledge in answering important questions for our region," said Eisenhauer.

The information from the survey will help formulate the watershed plan and determine key issues for the region. Steve Whitman, senior planner with Jeffrey H. Taylor and Associates and adjunct PSU faculty member, said the community input is one of the most critical pieces of creating a collaborative plan.

"There was need to understand whether people felt a connection to Newfound Lake and to the watershed, and whether they would help support rules and regulations that would help guide everyone more appropriately," said Whitman.

The Newfound Lake watershed area encompasses 63,000 acres, with approximately 15,000 year-round residents, an increase of 132% over the past 35 years.

Boyd Smith, director of the Newfound Lake Region Association, said now is the time to start protecting the lake and it watershed.

"If you were here 10 years ago and fast forward to today, you'd see a difference, especially on the hillsides," Smith said about the development around the lake. "More development around the lake will come in time, and if we're not proactive in managing the natural resources of the land, forest and water, and providing for the folks that live here, this place will change in a way that most people don't want to see, I think."

When completed in 2009, Every Acre Counts: the Newfound Watershed Master Plan will provide a comprehensive analysis of the Newfound Lake Region environment; will present citizen opinions about issues in the watershed and their desires for the future, will benchmark local master plans, policies and regulations; and will provide a "tool kit" of methods to maintain and improve environmental quality for the long term.

The $350,000 project is supported by federal Clean Water Act funds distributed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services that includes substantial matching contributions from project partners.

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu ]]> 8/8/08 http://www.plymouth.edu/news/fullstory.php?number=6381

The Center for Rural Partnerships (CRP), working in collaboration with North Country Resource Conservation and Development Area Council (RC & D) and the State Forester, has secured funding from the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a feasibility study for converting PSU's existing co-gen plant from fossil fuels to sustainably-harvested woody biomass from local forests. Conversion from fossil fuels to a renewable energy source (combined with sustainable forestry) has a number of positive attributes, according to CRP Director Thad Guldbrandsen.

"This advances the mission of the regional comprehensive university in numerous ways," said Guldbrandsen. "By efficiently using sustainably-harvested wood, we would contribute to the well being of the NH forests and forest-based economy."

The feasibility study is scheduled to be completed by next August. The PSU study is being conducted as part of a statewide, institution-scale biomass initiative, which will move toward establishing a biomass plant at Bear Brook State Park, PSU and three other institutions, such as public schools. The study also includes the N.H. State Forester, Phil Bryce of the Department of Economic Development, the UNH Cooperative Extension and the North Country RC & D. The statewide project aims to develop five biomass feasibility studies and create educational material for schools and other public institutions to help them evaluate the feasibility of biomass energy.

"PSU would become a model for other institutions region-wide and provide numerous learning opportunities for students and visitors," noted Guldbrandsen. "Converting PSU's co-gen plant could go a long way in achieving carbon neutrality on campus, because heat and electricity is our major source of carbon emissions."

The CRP is currently working with the President's Commission on Environmental Sustainability (PCES) to implement the feasibility study.

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu.

Nearly 200 years ago, Langdon Woods was a remote, thickly forested part of Plymouth owned by a stagecoach operator named James Fogg Langdon. Langdon had a reputation as a man of foresight, creativity and diligence. Today, in that same corner of town, stands a Plymouth State University residence hall that not only bears Langdon's name, it also aspires to achieve his qualities. PSU president Sara Jayne Steen related the site's history and link with James Langdon, saying, "I think he would have liked the building that bears his name."

This state-of-the-art project features a layout that follows the contour of the land on-site, preserving wetlands and other water elements while allowing maximum sunlight exposure for energy conservation. The brick, wood and glass building was outfitted with energy and water conserving fixtures and systems, including some waterless urinals. Heat is provided through a co-generation plant housed next door. These features will mean 58 percent less energy use and a 36 percent reduction in water use. PSU intends to pursue a gold-level certification in the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership-Energy-Environmental Design (LEEDS) program.

USNH Trustee Chairman Andrew Lietz characterized Langdon Woods as "truly an example of many hands, hearts and the best minds working collaboratively for a superior result."

As for the living quarters, Langdon Woods offers suite-style living options as well as hotel-type single and double bedrooms, a 1,000 square-foot aerobic exercise area, a coffee shop, a common area with wireless Internet access, smaller areas for students to congregate, bathrooms with more privacy, a laundry room, secure bicycle storage and a meeting/conference room. Additionally, the carpets throughout the building are recyclable and the University outfitted the rooms with furniture manufactured locally in Lisbon, N.H.

USNH Chancellor Stephen J. Reno, quoting British statesman Winston Churchill, noted, "We shape our buildings, and then our buildings shape us," in reference to the forward-thinking environmental aspects of the project.

The five-story high building has a capacity of 347 students and will be paid for entirely by student fees.