Clean Energy Taskforce

City of Middletown CLEAN ENERGY TASK FORCE MINUTES FEBRUARY 5, 2020 Present: Chair Jennifer Kleindienst, Councilman Vincent Loffredo, Augie DeFrance, Anna Salo-Markowski, Erin Dopfel, Dmitri D’Alessandro, Jeff Pugliese, John Giuliano Absent: Councilman Ed Ford, Jr. Also Present: Christopher M. Holden, Michael Harris, Emily Basham – CT Green Bank, Ray Lumpkin 1. Chair Opens Meeting: The meeting opened at 6:34 P.M. Room 208 City Hall 2. Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the 11/06/19 and 01/08/20 meetings were moved for approval by Anna Salo-Markowski and seconded by Erin Dopfel; Jeff Pugliese abstained from both minutes and Councilman Vincent Loffredo abstained from the November minutes, otherwise unanimous. 3. Public Comment: Ray Lumpkin is working on residential solar in his neighborhood, trying to strike a balance between trees and solar. 4. Presentation: Emily Basham, CT Green Bank on the Solar MAP, an opportunity for municipal solar 5. Old Business a. Solar installation, back taxes, and building permits – this is still under consideration. The City may work with the Green bank to try to finance the back taxes into the PPA. b. CHEER Update: Jeff Hush is working on a grant application to CDBG for additional funds. c. Middle School Building Committee Update – Jen sent out a report. Peter Staye - discussion about solar and other items for school improvements. Roof replacements could be a good timing. Snow school has lots of trees that would prevent solar. Net zero schools should be considered for future schools. An idea to ensure future building projects include energy efficiency in their design brought about the following motion. Dmitri D’Alessandro moved that the CETF recommend to the Common Council and the Mayor’s office that an overarching building committee be created for all municipal buildings, to create continuity from project to project, modeled similar to the City of Manchester. Seconded by Councilman Vincent Loffredo, Unanimous 6. New Business a. CETF Leadership Roles – Jen presented on this topic. Looking for HeatSmart and CHEER leaders. b. Support for Community Choice Aggregation statewide action – the Common Council approved a Resolution supporting CCA. Dan Knudsen - requested more help to overcome the State’s resistance. Anna will work on a letter of support. Jennifer Kleindienst moved that the CETF send a letter to State Senator Matt Lesser and the other Middletown delegation in support of CCA. Augie DeFrance seconded. Unanimous c. CETF gathering on February 1, Michael Harris and Jeff Hush attended. Meeting was in Middletown, was hopeful to present about the issues with the Middle School project. Some municipal presenters but also commercial presentations. Net zero schools are gaining traction. d. Energy Coordinator’s Report – Sent out report ahead of the meeting. e. HeatSmart – Cat Young is interested in getting more information. 7. Other Councilman Vincent Loffredo moves to recommend to the Mayor that he add a new line item for Climate Action as the budget is developed. Anna Salo-Markowski, Second. Unanimous Sustainable CT summary – the consensus was to keep CETF as a separate entity. 8. Adjourn: the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM Submitted for approval by: Christopher M. Holden, PE, Deputy Director