Environmental Commission

Madison Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes January 25, 2018 • Call to order by Chairperson Claire Whitcomb at Hartley Dodge • Announcement of meeting notice Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act: Read by Claire Whitcomb, Chairperson. This meeting of the Madison Environmental Commission complies with the Open Public Meetings Act. (P.L. 1975 c. 231) Notice of this meeting was provided to the Madison Eagle, Daily Record, Star Ledger, and to tapintomadison.com. Copies of this notice are posted on the bulletin board at the main entrance of Hartley Dodge Memorial and were made available to the general public. • Present: MEC members Stephan Stocker, Trina Mallik, Claire Whitcomb, Ellen Kranefuss; Brian Monaghan, Joan Maccari, Renee Shalhoub, Carmela Vitale as BC liaison • Absent: Ann Huber • Events: • Not discussed  • Guests: Neil Stourton, David Steketee, Frank Curran, Mike Bianchi, Carrie Klein; Food and Water Watch Matt Smith; CFO and Asst Borough Administrator Jim Burnet; Borough Council John Hoover; from Drew University Lisa Jordan, O'neil Van Horn, Nicolina Lentine, John Hanna, Mason Scher • Continuing Business: In depth discussion on Solar Task Force: Jim Burnet: • There are 565 municipalities in NJ, only 12 have their own utilities. We’re one of them. • Since 1940s Madison has been using excess electric revenues to lower our own taxes, which pays for things like our sewage, fire department, garbage whereas other municipalities’ residents pay directly for these services • Drew is Madison’s largest electric customer; it is a non profit so doesn’t pay taxes but gets services from the town; their electric bills pay for these services • Jim passed around a rate sheet. We’re not the highest. And we can see that PSEG adds on a lot of charges, e.g. higher summer rates, distribution charges, societal charges • PSEG’s rates are 13c/kWh, Madison’s rats are 20c/kWh, including all charges and a 1.5c dividend or credit • There is a 100kWh limit on renewable energy installations because Madison doesnt want customers to generate their own electricity and deprive town of electric bill revenue • For residents who do have solar, Madison does not currently make a profit (previously, town reimbursed at wholesale price); it is beneficial for residents • Jim does not want the 100kWh limit of solar installations to be lifted since this would cut into surplus that the town uses to pay for municipal services • We receive $7 million in surpluses • Jim supports residents getting solar, using EVs, etc.  • 50 of the largest electric users (out of 6500) generate 40% of revenue • Madison will have a demand response system hopefully by this summer (definitely by next summer), whereby for instance Madison pays Drew to cut electric consumption at certain times of year; could start out as a pilot and then scale up • Madison pays $1 million in transmission charges • ‘Peak’ or ‘capacity’ charge is the charge to deliver energy at hottest days of year; currently town calls on peaking generators to deliver energy on those hot days as it exceeds our contracts • We are part of PJM (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland), the largest regional transmission company in US and pay them $2 to 3 million to deliver electricity on the hottest days at peak times (4 to 6pm) • For these hours and days, Madison calls on Drew to lower energy consumption due to demand response. • In response to Matt Smith’s question on lower energy consumption through energy efficiency, Jim said possibly the town could compensate residents in some way to reduce energy consumption for example by a Nest • Council has spoken about getting a dedicated generation source for the town but demand response may deem that not necessary • Seaside Heights has peak generators and the added benefit was proven during Superstorm Sandy when they kept power on • Smith River is looking at batteries, which is helpful for a couple of hours during peak times • Madison installed smart meters about four months ago • In predictive monitoring, can predict more • There is no current monitoring of residential energy consumption • MEC can help in communicating to residents to lower their energy consumption during peak hours. When asked if previous communication from Borough to residents has in fact lowered energy consumption, Jim said he’ll look back and see. • If for instance 40 residents lowered their energy consumption during peak hours, town will pay them; everybodys rates go down • Transmission rates are very high; JCP&L charges a lot  • Jim likes a PPA model where an entity designs, builds, and maintains the generation system (so assumes all risk), gets solar credits, Madison guarantees to buy the electricity generated here (behind the meter) • Matt Smith points out that Murphy wants 100% renewable by 2050 in NJ. • Can we get an exemption for 100kWh for a special project? • Jim brought up solar by MRC- McKeon and Codey approved it but vetoed by Christie; lets propose it again to Murphy; need to ask Carmela and Jim the number of the bill we’re referring to • Brian pointed out that we should focus on parking lots rather than interfere with MRC’s natural beauty • Stephan pointed out that we can solar powered lighting on MRC since built with Green Acres money • Jim is also open to solar on grounds or parking lot of Madison pool (even though the previous Gabel Associates report didn’t think the parking lot was suitable, we can revisit); any parking lot in town have no legislative restrictions • Jim would want a PPA less than 8c/kWh. Frank is looking at 5c. • The town buys three blocks of energy contracts; each contract is for a year and they buy blocks for 20 to 30 years; currently we have one block with Nextera and the other two with Exelon • MEC can request to BC that if Nextera is within 5c of Exelon that Nextera should win that block; Jim would brief Council on this but needs to talk to the public contract professionals on specifics; we should hold off for a few months because how we do contracts may be changing; we can include a general clause that instead of going with contractor based on lowest price, within a certain margin, another provider can be rewarded if they are renewable • David Steketee asked if the town buys battery storage what ROC would they need? Jim didn’t immediately know. • MEC’s strong value add, especially in partnership with the Borough’s new PIO (not yet announced who that is) is communication to town residents on load shedding (and other items like anti idling, recycling, etc) • Another topic we can help effectively communicate is our energy rates and what goes behind them  • New Business: • In regards to the anti idling ordinance, police do not have the capacity to give out tickets; the only effective method to reduce idling is communication and especially through kids. • Green Vision Forum presented by Renee • Will be held on April 19th in the evening at Drew University • Kick start to community discussion • How students feel about sustainability • How we move forward as a community to reach our sustainability goals • Tables- Drew feels more connected by Madison and vice versa; others with tables are College of St. Elizabeths, FDU, Ciel Power, MACTA Green, and other organizations • Discussion: panel of students and town; students should get to know town • Jim will pass it in front of Council to get a resolution for it voted on