Sustainability Commission

Albany Sustainability Advisory Committee Meeting August 5, 2021 Albany City Hall and virtual locations We waited for members to join the meeting in order to reach a quorum. Tina started the meeting. We do not have a quorum so we will not be able to vote on anything, but we can discuss business. Present: Jackie, Lauren, Tina, Joe. Remotely: Andre and Scott. Gaby and Pete are on the way. Jackie is taking minutes. No public comment period due to lack of quorum. Annual report was submitted to Common Council and the Administration. Gaby will discuss when she arrives. Tina discussed the Climate Emergency Budget Proposal. She provided some background: In May, the Common Council unanimously passed a resolution regarding a climate emergency. As part of the resolution, the Committee joined with a member of the Common Council, the Energy Manager, and the Planning Department to develop an action plan to go with the Climate Emergency Resolution. With the help and input of members of the SAC, they created the “Supplemental Climate Emergency Action Program.” It was submitted to the Common Council on August 3, 2021. Joe Coffey asked about the 30x30 language and how the proposal addresses climate impacts. Gaby explained that the 30x30 language was meant to capture the broader impacts of climate change beyond mitigation and meant more as a point for further discussion for the city to pursue. Emphasis was made on need for resiliency and adaptation along with mitigation. Document should be seen as a living document and updated as necessary. In brief: the ideas in here are based on the data from our GHG inventory. We addressed the sectors that produce the highest GHG: home heating and cooling, transportation, solid waste, and electricity. The SAC Annual Report was submitted to the Common Council. Tara Donadio from Cap District Regional Planning Commission and Outreach Coordinator for NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program presented on Clean Energy Communities Campaign for Albany County. Partnering with Albany County, Solarize Albany, Capital District Regional Planning Commission. SAC Energy Subcommittee support for Affordable Housing Partnership (AHP) proposal to NYS Dept of State Brownfield Program for funding to create a sustainable energy plan for Sheridan Hollow neighborhood. Pete was absent and Tina provided the update. A letter of support was sent to NYS DOS from the SAC to support the AHP proposal. The proposal is installation of a geothermal district for Sheridan Hollow. Sheridan Hollow was just designated as a BOA. Aztec Geothermal, The Greyedge Group, National Grid) are applying through BOA DOS for funding. Tina asked if anyone had last minute budget needs for 2021. $800 left. An account was set up to make copies. Funds have paid for farmer’s mkt space, wheel of fortune, flyer holder, etc Capital Lights in the Park needs an SAC representative to attend meetings. Jackie will attend and Andre will join as backup. Tina will look into how often the group meets and when. Commissioner and Subcommittee reports: Joe Coffey – Beaver Creek Clean River Project underway, photos on website, a community survey was held on how to repurpose the area post construction. Open playing fields were the main choice of committee response. AWD will go back out to the community with design options in late August. Equity – Andre and Jason met last month and discussed budget, Andre has been meeting with different organizations to learn more for the filming project. Agriculture – Scott working with community gardens, friends of Tivoli, Normanskill. Launching a South End biocultural forest program this fall via a DEC Community Forest funds to plat trees with an equity focus, decrease temperatures in redline areas and increase food acces, Goal to get 50 trees in the ground. Jackie and Andre to talk with Scott about this to see about replicating in other communities. Tina – Albany Compost program underway. Tabling at 3 farmer market: Delaware, South End Night market, Western Ave. Radix educator going to additional event: Sheridan Hollow block party on Sept 11 Gaby – Amy Walsh , AWD Watershed Coordinator, presented to the group on her role within AWD and areas the subcommittee could assist. AWD has done a GHG inventory for the carbon credits through the Nature Conservancy – something to present to the SAC at a future meeting Gaby will chair the Sept 2nd meeting as Tina will be away. Tina is looking for someone else to run for Chair in January. To attend the SAC meetings virtually, members should put their names and location: street(not street #)/zipcode into a google doc that Tina will provide a link to Cool Initiatives for Summer:: o The Nature Bus: https://www.cdta.org/sites/default/files/news_files/nature_bus_flye r_design_2021-final_0.pdf Through CDTA, free, takes you to Thacher/ Tivoli/ 5 Rivers o Ditch the Car Campaign: https://www.cdtcmpo.org/ditchthecar/ Notes on Tara’s presentation: Tara Donadio (Cap District Regional Planning Commission and Outreach Coordinator for NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program) - Community Campaigns o 4 Campaign Types  Community Solar  Cost saving to subscribers up to 10% and community promote subscription to residence  Electric Vehicles – new  Muni/Community partner w dealerships to encourage EV purchase and leases  Clean heating and cooling EE campaigns  Heat pumps air, water grouns  Demand Response  Partner w utility to encourage sign up, allow the utility to connect to smart thermostat and adjust temp during event to manage demand o 25 sign ups (etc depending on campaign) as large community (>40k ppl)  Depends on campaign type – for Clean Heating/Cooling/ EE need 6 as heat pumps o 200 points and $15k per campaign type o 36/40 grants left o Each community needs own buy-in  County’s approved scoping doc can be shared as template  Shows NYSERDA that muni has investment in campaign o Once NYSERDA apporves the scoping doc you can then start counting of sign-up etc  Sign-ups etc can count multiple times (if city gets sign up the larger muni gets the sign-up)  Tina – we can piggyback on outreach  County – Luke Rogers in main contact for Tara – playing coordinating role  Choose installers, do RFP , do events - Albany County choose 3 of campaigns o Community Solar/ EVs/ Clean Heating-Cooling-EE Campaign - Steps: o County Scoping Doc approved by NYSERDA (done) o Choose installer partners for 3 campigns o Invite county munis to join o Press event to kickoff campaign to residents - Community Solar o Working w Solarize Albany  Well versed in this for many yrs  o Choosing a solar subscription RFP  Currently Reviewing RFPs for best deal - EV o Working with CDTC o Working on MOU – have grant under DOE for outreach = o Jacob (LN?) working with Luke Rogers o Installer needs to provide address of resident and date installed purchased/leased – not shared publically just need to be verified - Clean Heating and Cooling & EE o Heat Smart Capital Region o Campaign established Next Steps: - Use county scoping doc to create own - Submit to NYSERDA for approval - Announce and begin outreach with county and other munis Send slide show by email – Tina will share Hyde will work with Tina on this Take County doc, put on Google drive and have subcommittee members - Start w Andre, transpo Share and make sure Commissioners see it Grants are first come / first served basis / statewide – - Not many Community Solar grants more like to snag as not many large community applicants