By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

LONG LAKE - The Town of Long Lake is hoping finding ways to save on energy use will translate into budget savings.

The Town Board heard a presentation last week on a pilot program to save energy, delivered by The Wild Center Grant Coordinator Kara Page and Sue Montgomery Corey, supervisor of the Town of Minerva and president of Community Power Network of New York, Olmstedville.

Page said it might be possible to cut back on the price the town pays for energy by as much as 30 percent, and asked the board to consider joining the towns of Moriah and Schroon Lake in the Community Energy Efficiency Management pilot program.

The program was developed by the Adirondack Climate & Energy Action Plan to support communities’ economic needs through energy-efficient incentives and programs.

The first step would be an inventory of the energy use of municipally owned buildings and vehicles. Town officials will then come up with energy-saving plans, track the savings and share their experiences with other communities.

“We are looking for ways to get the most out of our [tax] dollars and saving on energy is one way,” Corey said.

Maria Leonardi, a fellow at The Wild Center, did an energy inventory for Long Lake in 2008. Her report would form the basis for an update.

According to the Leonardi report, in 2008 the town paid $56,603 for street lighting, $109,842 to fuel town vehicles and $119,938 for heat and electricity in town buildings.

The board agreed to decide at its next meeting if it wants to be part of the pilot program.

No bids were received from vendors interested in selling a Ski-Doo Skandic SWT sport utility snowmobile to the town.

Two heating oil bids were received, from Clark Energy, Inlet, and MX Fuels, Massena. With no discernible difference between the two, the board chose Clark Energy.

Bidding was also close on the 2012 furnace maintenance contract. B.J. Queen, Inlet, had a lower base contract price but a higher per service call rate; and Raquette Lake Supply Company a higher base price but a lower per service call rate.

The board chose Raquette Lake Supply because its overall bid would be lower once the number of service calls required last year is factored in.

The Long Lake Town Board will next meet Wednesday, Dec. 14, starting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall.