Energy Advisory Committee

Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes October 5th, 2010 Committee: Barry McPhee, Bill Neuberger, Alan Weiss, Carl Etnier Staff: Harold Garabedian, Taylor Newton and Isaac Lawrence, VISTAs, Harold Garabedian, Project Manager. Other: Tim Maker 1. Report from Barry about the CC Solar Vote Barry and Ken reported to city council on Sept 21st. After that meeting, they received a memo from Paul Giuliani that stated that there is some problem with entering into a relationship with All Earth Renewables (AER). There is a serious question as to whether the council has the power to commit the municipality to a this multi-year financial arrangement. The recommendation is to create a capital finance lease with a non- appropriation clause. The city selects an asset, AER purchases asset, city pays a series of charges for the asset. Action: Barry and Ken will draft the RFP, vet it with this group, work with City Staff and then return to the CC. Harold will keep thisChair Weiss requested that this issue be kept on the agenda as we approach March. Barry will look up whether the charter changes, if approved, would alter the legal ability of the city to enter into described arrangement with AER. 2. Final Ed Brochure Small changes were made to the brochure, 3500 copies have been received in Planning, the rest have been delivered to The Bridge for their issue on the 21st. 3. Response to Bridge Article from Ken Jones Ken’s letter, in draft form, focuses on the contrast between local control over fuel sources and the vacillations of the global oil market according to Barry who has seen a draft. Ken not being present the committee was not able to review and, there was no further discussion on this. 4. Voter Ed. Strategy for Nov 2 Harold will get on bothhas requested time on the Montpelier ALIVE! Agenda to present the energy ballot item, Gwen has been to Rotary, will present to CAN! neighborhoods, handing out fliers in town/ Barry suggests that we focus on negative stakeholders in the process. We should identify them systematically. Barry wants to meet with Harold to offer to help identify. Letters to the editor on the 26th meeting, on the 30th Gwen and Harold have discussed will do an hour on an interview on public access; to be scheduled. Isaac and Taylor will send out brochures to committee members when they come in. 5. PACE Committee members generally understand the program. 6. Review of Proposals on Oct. 20 Technical team will be assembled to review them — one or two committee members will liaison. Participation in the Bid Review Process by Committee Members: Call for Volunteers Will be a detailed comparative process, comparing bids item by item to one another and to the RFP. The role of MEAC is to look at this more through the public’s eye. The members added from MEAC will be part of a team of experts. Harold, as Project Manager, will be making a recommendation to Gwen will select the team, as the project is really one of the Planning Department. as to teh team makeup. The committee moves to nominate members of the committee to observe the bid selection process. Action: Nominations for committee members to participate in reviewing bids for the heating plant will occur at the next meeting (October 26th). Timeline: October 20th bids are opened. October 26th, there will be some discussion regarding the brochure. Isaac will send out reminder for meeting to improve attendance. Committee will choose reps to participate in the bid review process. Include prominently in the email sent out that we will be thinking about members for nomination to the DE bid review team. 7. Committee’s Charge Barry entered in to some discussion about he felt the committee’s charge had changed from when membership of the committee was solicited to when final appointments made. Alan indictaed it would be helpful to have a discussion of what individual members’ expectations are of this committee. Next meeting will be October 26th at 7 pm in the Police Station Community Room (room is booked). Harold will add discussion Proposed Agenda items: Discussion of committee’s charge, committee memebers’ expectation; Initial summary presentation of RFP responses; Selection of MEAC committee members to participate on RFP review team; Review of energy elements of Master Plan ( role to agenda for the 26th. We’ll discuss what we have (minutes from the CC meeting where it was voted in). Taylor and Isaac will get energy related sections of master plan, and energy vision statement for handouts)from a couple years ago.