Approximately 2,000 surveys regarding the installation and use of
natural gas were expected to be mailed out this week to residents
living south of Richfield Springs and north of Oneonta, as the effort
to bring a new energy source to the area moves forward.
In addition to mailing back a completed survey, area residents
may also respond, via the Internet, by clicking on the “Natural Gas
Survey” link at www.OtsegoCountyChamber.com, according to Alex Shields,
Richfield Springs resident. The former Otsego County representative and
Richfield town supervisor said, last week, that self-addressed stamped
envelopes would accompany the mailed four-page survey.
The effort was funded in part by the Otsego County Chamber of
Commerce, which Shields said provided $2,000 for production and
mailing. Private donations brought the total amount of money used for
the survey’s creation and distribution up to approximately $3,000. This
is compared to an estimated cost of “over seven to $10,000 by
OpinionWorks, if they did everything, including mailing the survey,”
Shields said.
Once the surveys are returned, which he hopes will total at least 20
percent, “(Otsego Planning Director Terry) Bliss has offered the use of
his college interns to help compile the statistics from both the
written and online surveys,” Shields said.
“I”m hoping for more,” he explained, “because it’s going to the village of Cooperstown and the village of Milford.”
Shields has been spearheading an effort for the last year to bring
natural gas from Richfield Springs down the Route 28 corridor south
into Cooperstown, then further south to Oneonta.
The cost of such a project could run between $4.25 million to $5
million, depending on what areas the project actually covers, Shields
said.
The survey doesn’t mention cost, Shields said, because he “tried to
be objective,” as he is looking for people’s feelings about the concept
of bringing natural gas to the area. He talked about the comparative
current pricing of the kilowatt per hour charge of 6.5 cents from Rural
Electric Company, and the 12-15 cents per kilowatt hour charge offered
by New York State Electric and Gas. He also said that “the percent cost
for how natural gas is provided through municipal means should be
somewhat proportionately competitive or less.”
The survey consists of 10 multiple choice questions, including the
basic information of whether the person answering it is talking about a
home or business, what type of fuel they currently use, the current
energy costs paid monthly and square footage of the building in
question.
It then has a four part question presenting hypothetical
circumstances involving bringing natural gas to the area. For example,
the survey asks, “if natural gas service became available in your area
and it were delivered to your home or business through new pipes that
would be buried underground, how likely would you be to switch to
natural gas if (A) the cost of natural gas was comparable to what
you’re paying now.”
Three other parts of that particular question focus on the cost of
natural gas, without providing figures; if the person had help
converting their appliances over to natural gas, and if the person
answering the survey thinks natural gas is better for the environment.
The survey was made possible with the help of “technical assistance
and cooperation from Otsego County’s Departments,” including Economic
Development, Planning, 911, G.I.S (for computer mapping), Real Property
Tax and M.I.S. (for data processing), and support from Opinionworks.com
and The Shipping Room, Shields (and the survey) noted.
The survey is confidential and should only take about five minutes, Shields said.
|