Energy Advisory Committee

MEAC meeting minutes 12/17/13 Dan Jones, Johanna Miller, Dan Costin, Andrea Colnes, Becky Wigg, Alex Prolman, Anne Watson, Barry McPhee, Jim Stiles, Jessie Baker, Ken Jones, Tim Shea, Allison Hollingsworth, Kiel Corey, Jessica Edgerly Walsh, Sean Sheehan Meeting started at 7:07 The committee accepted the minutes from last meeting. Solar Opportunities – Jessica Edgerly-Walsh from SunCommon spoke about the community education model. SunCommon has done work with energy teams to increase solar installations: number of homes with solar (50-100%) in a year, Waterbury LEAP solar for scholars challenge (getting parents and students involved), Underhill, Essex, etc solar workshops and events, big range We could: host a solar tour (a la home tour), teacher and parent event, talk at library or church, use pop- up store Net Zero buildings? Many are very close, many are retrofits. Net Zero in electrical use. (But solar installation creates mindset for further work in future!) A larger brainstorm conversation will happen at a later MEAC meeting. Solar RFP – Alex and Jessie gave an update Closes on Friday, subcommittee can help review and give work and recommendations to city council Subcommittee: Anne, Becky, Johanna, Dan Costin (Opinion on whether to favor selling or keeping RECs will be part of what subcommittee will report back with.) Net Zero-Dan Jones gave an update of the Net Zero subcommittee meeting Got everyone on the same page, a place to organize other activities around, Andy: we need a definition to center around, cool interesting projects to work toward that goal, a plan (but mostly need first two) The Committee discussed how to find a definition for Net Zero: Goal is long term, so we don’t change campaigns every year Ken: Definition needs to take incorporate long-term characteristic of Net Zero goal, it is a moving target Andrea: EAN report – renewable energy, not necessarily within boundary (transportation around vehicles that call Montpelier home), food not included Dan Jones: How do we take technical components and talk to council about NZM? Ken: but technical components are our only concrete definition… Tim: Don’t need to reinvent the wheel – let’s use EAN report definition (Joey and Andy discussed the role of the committee in telling the story on NZM) Motion to accept EAN definition as starting point Andrea: picking short doable lists of next steps (Gave overview of dashboard idea) For next meeting, committee members will come with a few cool projects. Committee will identify subcommittees based on these projects. Examples: Working with GMP heat pump pilot, outreach work for dashboard Dan Costin: include benefits (economic development) Dan Jones: March Federal level support possible Jessie: Council’s goals are to proactively address energy projects, so don’t hesitate! Andrea: EAN can help MEAC prepare a presentation Committee will wrap Solar RFP update with general MEAC update to Council in January (15th?) Thoughts from the VECAN Conference: -Would be great to include food in energy discussion (50% of global warming gases come from food production) -Resiliency Scorecard might eventually be a tool, help in speaking with different groups Johanna: other energy committees have expressed interest in a discussion on legislation, date to be determined, any interest? Perhaps! Meeting ended at 8:48