SALEM — Attorney General Martha Coakley will host a roundtable discussion Friday on the anticipated winter heating and energy crisis.
Local and regional officials will meet to discuss the impact of rising energy costs on finances, public safety and public health.
"It is important that the municipalities plan now for this potential impending consumer and health crisis before thermometers dip to the freezing mark," the AG's office said in a statement.
Participants will include Fire Chief Dave Cody; Beth Hogan, the executive director of the North Shore Community Action Programs; the Rev. Jeffrey Barz-Snell, a member of the Salem Renewable Energy Task Force; Paul L'Heureux, director of facilities for the public schools; Paul Lanzikos, executive director of North Shore Elder Services; and state Rep. John Keenan of Salem.
U.S. Rep. John Tierney is scheduled to deliver opening remarks if he is not forced to remain in Washington, D.C., by the Wall Street crisis.
The forum will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Old Town Hall.
Although the public can attend, this is not a public hearing. There will be two panel discussions with a short break in between.
Coakley is holding other energy roundtables in Fitchburg, Plymouth and Holyoke.
