Clean Energy Taskforce

City of Middletown CLEAN ENERGY TASK FORCE MINUTES MEETING OF JANUARY 3, 2024, 6:30 PM HYBRID: ROOM 208, CITY HALL &WEBEX Members Present: Anna Salo-Markowski (Chair), Howard Weissberg (ex officio), Emily Gorlewski, John Giuliano, Vincent Loffredo, Ray Lumpkin, Sara Mendillo, Krishna Winston Members Absent: Patrick McKenna, John Pulino, Catherine Young Also Present: Ben Florsheim, Mayor; Representatives from Guaranteed Clean Energy Advisors (GCE) I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM by Chair Salo-Markowski, who introduced Tom Fernandes and Danny Hernandez (a Middletown resident) of GCE (Columbus, OH). T. Fernandes complimented CETF on its 2019 energy plan and explained that he and his colleague had already discussed with the Mayor the services GCE could provide to the City. II. GCE Presentation and Discussion T. Fernandes then played a short video that outlined those services so rapidly that it was impossible to capture them for these minutes. The handout that supplemented the video and the speaker made the following points: GCE was not “a contactor, consultant” or a supplier of products but a “Fiduciary Advior,” working with clients (municipalities and schools) to “find and create capital to make sustainability projects responsible, realistic, and possible.” The goal was to identify and apply for external funding that would pay for those projects without the City’s having to tap the general fund or issue bonds. The current funding environment was particularly favorable because of the Federal Government’s commitment to sustainability. For a refundable $2500 retainer GCE would assume the risk of helping with development of a project’s concept, doing the engineering, researching and applying for appropriate federal funding, issuing an RFP from vendors, and handling project management, with post-completion follow-up in the form of suggestions on future projects. The handout listed key areas for which potential funding was available for Middletown. The company would work on either new projects or projects already in progress. GCE had been working in CT for only 6 months, with projects in Cromwell and Derby under way. The Mayor commented on the need to act fast to take advantage of the available funding at a time when supplies and contractors were in high demand. He announced that he would ask his counterparts in Cromwell and Derby to share their towns’ experiences of working with GCE. T. Fernandes explained that the company’s fees would be paid from the grants. They would be based on the cost (= the value) of the project. Any shortfall in the promised savings or performance of the work would be covered by insurance. Andy Bittner, the company founder and CEO, joined the discussion remotely to address sustainability- focused projects. H. Weissberg asked him to identify some relatively straightforward projects the City might undertake (“low-hanging fruit”). A. Bittner responded that the availability of funding would determine the choice of projects. Through the IRA and other legislation the government was funding  2 projects that were more complicated and had longer payback periods than usual. H. Weissberg asked how much the City would have to expect to budget for such projects. A. Bittner replied that most of the grants covered 50–90% of the project costs and could be combined with funds from other sources, such as the CT Green Bank, state infrastructure funding, and the like; the City budget would not necessarily be affected. GCE would provide the information the City would need as the basis for decisions and would vet potential vendors. A. Salo-Markowski asked about funding for solar canopies. A. Bittner explained that funding could be obtained for ongoing projects; in the case of solar installations, the kwH cost of the energy produced would be lower with the grant, which would go to the contractor, from whom GCE would collect its fee. High-visibility projects were particularly desirable under the current federal programs. With reference to the City’s involvement in the current EPA climate-focused planning grant, the Chair asked how GCE would view such already established regional collaborations. A. Bittner indicated that GCE wanted what worked best for the City; if the company’s assistance was not needed on a project, that was no problem— good communication was the key to a productive relationship. In response to a question about Cromwell’s work with GCE, T. Fernandes said it was not appropriate for him to share information on the projects, which were currently being assessed. A. Salo-Markowski asked whether installation of EV charging stations would be an appropriate project. A. Bittner replied that such a project would be feasible but more complicated because of the different vehicle types, long-term maintenance requiements, decisions on locations, etc. involved. In conclusion, A. Bittner noted that the role of CETF would be to make a recommendation to the Mayor on engaging GCE. Upon conclusion of the presentation, the Mayor announced that he would stay for at least some of the rest of the meeting. III. Approval of Minutes The December meeting having lacked a quorum, there were no minutes to approve. V. Lofreddo reminded the Task Force that it should refrain from conducting business when a quorum was lacking. IV. Public Comment None. V. Old Business A. Solar Canopies and the Presentation by PACE (People’s Action for Clean Energy) (December meeting) The Chair called on the Task Force to create a list of action items, to include approaching businesses with large roof expanses and/or large parking lots. H. Weissberg noted that the project could be made more attractive if financial incentives were obtained through GCE, and added that he had an RFP ready to issue, which he would bring to the next meeting. E. Gorlewski asked whether all the businesses would be expected to use the vendor chosen through the RFP. K. Winston recalled that that had been the point of the “Solarize Middletown” 2016 residential project. V. Loffredo commented that a municipal site such as the high school’s parking lot would be a good demonstration project. He asked whether the entity hosting the solar canopy would use the power generated or sell it to the utility. The Chair promised to look up the procedure that had been used to recruit the Solarize vendor, and she commented that PACE’s technical assistance would be available at no cost. B. East Point Energy Presentation The Task Force discussed the company’s proposal to site a battery storage facility on South Main St./Rte 17, and agreed that it should submit a memorandum on the project to the Mayor. Although East Point would not need authorization from Planning and Zoning, since the CT Siting Council had jurisdiction, the 2  3 City might want to express an opinion to the Council. K. Winston commented that it would be important to ascertain whether the facility might create noise or vibrations that would disturb residents in the vicinity. H. Weissberg confirmed that the City now and then received complaints about such effects. V. Loffredo recalled the proposal to turn the old NRG plant on River Road into an energy storage facility; that remote location might be more suitable. A. Salo-Markowski said she would draft a memo to the Mayor expressing the Task Force’s sentiments. C. Artis Energy Presentation S. Mendillo reported that the Chamber’s small-business breakfast had been postponed to the fall. Her former colleague Jay Pugliese, now with Eversource, had identified someone in his office to join her environmental working group. She had learned that Artis and Eversource were collaborating, and Eversource was willing to invite other companies to attend a major energy forum. VI. New Business A. Meeting Schedule for 2024 V. Loffredo moved approval of the proposed schedule, which called for meetings at 6:30 on the first Wednesday of every month. K. Winston seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. B. Update on the Energy Coordinator Position The Mayor commented that the federal funding landscape would determine the configuration of the coordinator position. H. Weissberg noted that the City might engage GCE under a professional services agreement to assist with a smaller project that would provide evidence of the contributions the company could make to larger undertakings. VII. Adjournment There being no further new business, the meeting was adjourned by general assent at 7:56 PM. Respectfully submitted, Krishna Winston, Secretary pro tem 3