Environmental Sustainability Council

Name: Environmental Sustainability Council — Falls Church, VA
Start: 2020-06-04
End: 2020-06-04
Location: Falls Church, VA

Regular Meeting

Falls Church, VA · June 4, 2020

Agenda Minutes

Minutes

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL ENERGY TRANSITION SUBCOMMITTEE Thursday, June 4, 2020 7:30 – 9:00 Virtual Meeting via Skype CALL TO ORDER: Members: Tim Stevens (Chair), Jon Ward, Michael Trauberman, Andrew Sakallaris, Erika Myers Staff Liaison: Kate Walker, Environmental Programs Cooridinator Statewide Energy Legislation Review – Effects on the City Tim reviewed highlights of the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which directs that the electricity grid be carbon free by 2045. It promotes expansion of utility scale solar energy and off shore wind, joining RGGI, phasing out coal power plants. By incorporating most of the Solar Freedom bill components, the VCEA will help promote expansion of distributed solar energy. The City will be helped by making it easier to reach our goal of 80% reduction (below 2005 levels) in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. FCCPS will be helped by the provision that allows Power Purchase Agreements to more easily be used to finance a rooftop solar system for GMHS. Andy looked at PPAs issued by Henrico and Fairfax Counties and highlighted their possible use by our school organization to make procurement easier. The state DMME will be allowed to develop a model ordinance for use by jurisdictions to implement C‐PACE financing. The State Corporation Commission will initiate a proceeding to examine broad measures affecting electric vehicles (PUR‐2020‐0005). Erika will follow this proceeding for possible effects on Falls Church. Residential Uniform Statewide Building Code Tim proposed sending brief comments to the state DHCD expressing ETS support for adoption of a new residential USBC that fully incorporates the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (“model code”). Virginia’s current residential building code lags the model code for key energy efficiency provisions (ceiling and wall R‐value, allowed hourly air changes), which means that new homes will consume more energy than would be the case if the model code were adopted. ETS members unanimously supported sending brief comments to DHCD urging full code adoption. Solarize The program is now accepting customers, with Solar Energy World as vendor. In addition to providing PV systems, this year’s program also offers at home charging equipment and a free energy inspection. Jon prepared and helped send out letters to building owners having the best solar exposure. Kate and Jon will examine whether a virtual town hall can be organized to facilitate education of our residents regarding this year’s Solarize offerings. LED Streetlights The committee agreed to encourage city council to proceed with a proposed program to convert existing streetlights to LED models (Tim to compose a brief note to city council). Jon has been involved with analyzing program details on quantity, savings (financial and GHG emissions), style, perceived brightness (Lumens), perceived color temperature (Kelvin) and night sky light pollution, the latter being particularly of concern to ESC/ETS. Committee members agreed that obtaining public input is important. ETS expressed willingness to provide support to staff as program details are developed. EV charging opportunities Erika shared information on permission given to Dominion Energy Virginia to develop a pilot rebate programs to various sectors (e.g. multifamily buildings, fast chargers, workplace chargers, etc.) for electric vehicle supply equipment (i.e. chargers). The program should commence before the end of the year. ETS will want to help publicize these rebate opportunities, perhaps through the Chamber of Commerce and other channels. Erika will attempt to reach out to businesses along Broad Street to see if another DC fast charging structure can be located via EVGo. Approval of minutes ETS approved the draft February 6, 2020 minutes.

Agenda

Environmental Sustainability Council Meeting Agenda Virtual Meeting: https://meet.lync.com/fallschurch-fallschurchva/kwalker/D6Y9Y2D4 Thursday, June 4, 2020 7:30 - 9:30 pm NOTICE: The meeting for which this agenda has been posted will be held pursuant to and in compli- ance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. All participating members of the Environmental Sustainability Council Energy Transition Subcommittee will be present at this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view the meet- ing via this Skype meeting link: https://meet.lync.com/fallschurch-fallschurchva/kwalker/D6Y9Y2D4. Public comment and questions may be submitted to kwalker@fallschurchva.gov until 8:00 pm on June 4, 2020. All comments are provided, in full, to the members of the Environmental Sustainability Council Energy Transition Subcommittee and comments received by the deadline will be summarized during the meeting. PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will be conducted via Skype for Business. If you do not already use Skype for Business, you will be prompted to install it when clicking the meeting link, so please take some time ahead of the meeting to do so. If needed, there are short instructions to install the applica- tion following the meeting agenda. Please email cmester@fallschurchva.gov if you need assistance with installation. During the meeting, staff will likely not be available to assist with installation. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Statewide Energy Legislation Review – Effects on the City 4. Statewide Residential Building Code Improvement 5. Solarize 6. LED streetlights and the City’s CIP: CIP description, cost analysis summary and details 7. EV charging opportunities: Level 3 on Broad St; Dominion Energy Virginia rebates 8. Approval of past minutes February 6 2020 Staff Liaison: Kate Walker City of Falls Church 300 Park Avenue, Suite 302E Falls Church, VA 22046 Email: kwalker@fallschurchva.gov Phone: (703) 248-5297 The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5297, TTY711. Accessing Skype – New Users Smartphone: If you plan to view the meeting on a smartphone, access your preferred app store to download the “Skype” app. You will have to allow Skype access to some features on your phone and accept their terms and conditions. PC/Windows: If you plan to view the meeting on a personal computer, visit www.skype.com to down- load and install the program. You will have to allow Skype access to some features on your computer and accept their terms and conditions. After downloading Skype:  Click the advertised meeting link to join the Skype meeting.  When the app opens, click ‘Join as Guest’ and enter your name. Click the blue arrow to con- tinue.  The meeting will start with your microphone and video features turned off. As an observer, you can view or listen to the meeting without these features. If you are a meeting participant, you should enable at least the microphone feature. Video is not required but may be useful. Depending on your role in the meeting, there may be restrictions on whether you can speak during the meeting.

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