Energy Advisory Committee

Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee meeting notes 2/18/2014 Members present: Dan Jones, Dan Costin, Becky Wigg, Tim Shea, Barry McPhee, Alison Hollingsworth, Keil Corey, Anne Watson, Johanna Miller, Jim Stiles Others present: Jessica Edgerly-Walsh (SunCommon), Jessie Baker, Alex Prolman, Robert Dostis (Green Mountain Power), Hannah Reckhow, Barbara Conroy (Vermont Technical College), Laurie Feidler (Vermont State Employees Credit Union). Meeting called to order at 7:03pm 1. Minutes of previous meeting were approved. 2. Anne Watson Proposals for rules of procedures for MEAC Anne's hope: That we make our procedures “official”--question to the Committee: Is it important that we have some sort of organizational document akin to the Planning Commission's Rules of Procedure (http://www.montpelier-vt.org/page/303/.html). Dan C: Would be nice to have a similar level of responsibility as the Commission in terms of planning our energy infrastructure etc. Alison and Becky feel having a formalized structure would be nice. Dan C: Are there other energy committees in the state with bylaws? Joey: Yes; will provide sample bylaws of other energy committees. Dan C: Other documents besides Open Meeting Law that MEAC should be following? Jessie B.: Yes, ethics policy and others. Will circulate those documents with the group. Anne will work (with documents provided by Joey & Jessie) on synthesizing a document. Dan C. can help. Perhaps a document can be prepared by the next meeting? Barry: Concern about document retention; having a shared space where all MEAC documents can be held. Will follow up with Jessie, Alex and Hannah about what the City currently has and create some model for a centralized holding space. 4. Report on Solar City RFP RFPs have been reviewed, clarifying questions will be sent out to finalists shortly, before being brought in for interviews. 5. Report of Council meeting and approval of NZM and going forward Dan J: City Council presentation the week before was “delightfully and warmly received by the Council. We've been given a mandate to forge ahead with the net-zero project.” What partnerships would we like to pursue? Organizations with whom MEAC has working relationships: VTC, GMP, EAN, EVT, SunCommon, VSECU, others Robert: GMP will be launching a pilot project. To take a step back, this is about Montpelier launching this big ambitious net zero project, and GMP is only one partner in a much bigger process. Tangible projects GMP can offer at the start of this process: -heat pumps (rental program; no need for on-bill financing) -EV charging stations (Level 2) -group net-metered solar arrays for local environmental organizations (located on GMP property) -Partner with local car dealerships to offer E.V.s to GMP customers at 0% financing & no-money down? Many questions to be answered. Anne: How to package this for the public? This is a sort of 'menu of options'--menu could include offerings from other organizational partners too. When presenting, how about this: Full press conference, release, then after there's a sideshow devoted especially to each project individually so that each project gets full attention. What about a Net Zero Montpelier website? EAN is currently developing one; what if they also include resources for the other projects/partnerships? Joey: A fan of the idea of a big event that's still largely educational about what net zero is, what it'll take to get there, etc, alongside the tangible projects. Anne: When does this event happen? Jessica: Host it on a Monday, because T-F all the reporters (and John Hollar) are in the statehouse. So the soonest it can happen is the Monday after town meeting day. Tim, Robert: Bring Mary Powell on board, have her attend and make that public commitment. Joey: Can the sample projects be fully-baked and ready to go by March 10th? The goal of NZM itself, and a few little projects are enough of a press event; the whole thing doesn't have to be ready-to-go. Perhaps would be better to hint at a collection of things to come in addition to what's ready by that first date. Continuous rolling-out of projects. Laurie: VSECU might be putting an EV station into their new St. Johnsbury branch. Also, VSECU has the V-Green loan program, a “full suite of loan programs” that have discounted rates and extended terms for “green” projects. Laurie will talk with Robert later about ways to collaborate. Dan C: What about programs for efficiency improvements through EVT? Alison: EVT launched their pilot program for new commercial construction/full gutting & renovation two weeks ago. The program is composed of technical assistance and other incentives for certain complicated parts of building construction & renovation. However, EVT has the green light to get outside of their traditional box and start building programs that they haven't really explored yet. Possibility for growth. Also, sights are set on the Carr Lot project. Working with the City to (hopefully) enroll the Carr Lot into their pilot program. Back to the event: Robert will check with Mary & John about dates. Tim will contact Andrea Colnes to see if the dates work for her (and the website). Joey wants to make sure this has an educational component: Net Zero means “Conservation- Efficiency-Renewables-Transportation” etc. A visual is a good thing to have. Something (anything) to attract the TV cameras. Barbara: VTC students designed a project for a “sustainable Montpelier”...previously designed a Net Zero Carr Lot proposal; this is more comprehensive. Unsure how VTC can fit into these efforts; students can help somehow though. Research in some capacity? Jessica, SunCommon's plan: Piloting solar heat. Combine heat pumps with solar program; bring SunCommon in and audit your home, install solar panels and heat pumps at the same time. Heat pumps will be piloted in Waterbury, Montpelier and Rutland(?). Difference between SunCommon program and GMP program: SC—homeowners own the heat pump; GMP—GMP owns the heat pump and customers rent it. SC is hosting an event next week to promote their solar heat program w/VPIRG & others. MEAC will sponsor. Motion: MEAC will sponsor the event, and Dan Costin will speak at the event about our mission and how it relates. Back to the event again, regarding what projects are highlighted, which speakers etc. Jessica: Start with the headline you want to have in the papers the next day, then curate the speakers along those lines. Likely speakers: EAN, GMP, John Hollar, MEAC, EVT, maybe one or two more project partners? A concern about privileging SunCommon etc, other private parties with whom we've initially worked, as opposed to having an open process where any solar contractor can come and advertise. Workaround: “These are our initial partners, and the programs they're offering for this initiative. We're looking for more!” Next steps: An event-organizing team: Joey, Dan J., ~Anne W. Meeting was adjourned at 8:33pm