Energy Advisory Committee

Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee September 9, 2015 Memorial Room, City Hall Attendees: Dan Costin, Tim Shea, Paul Markowicz, Cara Robechek, Becky Wigg, Anne Watson, Barbara Conrey, Ken Jones, Kate Stephenson, Dan Jones, Geof Fitzgerald, Johanna Miller, Scott Muller, Laura Biren Meeting began with potluck dinner @ 5:30, meeting at 6:00. Announcements: Anne: Working on an initiative to engage solar providers & match them with prospective customers interested in Community Solar. She & Becky are developing a survey; she will send it out to the committee for feedback. Geof: The new WWTP operator is Chris Cox, who has worked at the facility. The first 500 KW solar installation in Sharon is scheduled to break ground mid-October. There have been some complications with the second site, so permitting is taking longer. Kate: Will take on distribution of the Nest Thermostats from Efficiency Vermont at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday. Overall Feedback from Stakeholder Outreach: Becky: Need a conduit for education & connection; more interaction with energy companies. Geof: Should pitch efforts to landlords. Steve Everett is very willing to help. Tim: Montpelier Alive has a distribution list for marketing. Anne: Met with Matt Coda (Fuel Dealer’s Assoc). He indicated that between 2 – 20% of fuel is biofuel; however, sulphur content in fuel oil has grown higher. Ken: The state proposed “Property Tax Reduction” Act may help to reduce carbon emissions. Barbara & Paul: Attended the Georgetown Prize meeting w/ reps from other 2 communities & Efficiency Vermont. EVT is assisting the 3 towns participating, by setting baselines, monitoring electrical use, and offering other resources, such as “Commons Energy” – a public purpose energy service company. Also, EVT is offering each town $10,000 over the life of the competition for marketing and outreach. Dan: Weatherization efforts can be financed through the Heat Savers program from VSECU. Scott: The city might make use of the State’s buying power, through a $6 million loan fund. Info from the city on their vehicle uses is thin – a better reporting methodology is needed. Phase II Strategic Planning Session: Stakeholder Outreach Results Education piece – MEAC to serve as a conduit Weatherization agencies – promoting thermal efficiency MEAC as an organizing entity for area landlords Linking with Montpelier Alive to help market MEAC activities Electric hot water, electric heat – focus Independence Square – all electric heat Buying power of the State of VT Municipal blogs – accounting for energy use; identifying priorities Long-term Goals - Prioritize our participation in the Georgetown University Energy Prize and Climate Action Champion project over the next two years with a focus on electrical efficiency in residential and municipal sectors - Establish a governing structure that optimizes full engagement and productivity of all MEAC members - Work closely with the City of Montpelier staff and committees, and other stakeholder to get full buy-in for NZM efforts and implement 1 project/Year to reduce energy use or generate power with a goal of becoming a trusted key resource to positively influence municipal policy - Ensure the long-term financial viability of MEAC through fundraising to secure paid city staffing to assist with MEAC efforts - Foster public engagement through diverse methods, engaging other organizations and private sector, and broaden MEAC membership to fill gaps in expertise - Have fun and celebrate success! SWOT Analysis Strengths - Relative high awareness of citizenry in Montpelier - Diverse bench strength of MEAC: good people/expertise - Formal city goal/NZM - Track record – solar agreement, district heat, GUEP, etc. - Active schools – Green School Energy Challenge - Neutrality of MEAC: o Not trying to promote a particular comp. o Unbiased view Weaknesses - Support on City Council is tenuous; [Idea: develop yardstick + monitoring] - Lack of accountability o Ability to measure o Municipal level + overall - MEAC doesn’t really have any power in the City - Lack of clarity of actions to achieve our goals - Lack of org. structure - All volunteer board; lack of dedicated staff - Individual’s cost of making improvements - Renters! And affordability of improvements? - Ineffective communication in community - Trying to get people’s attention - Measuring to targets we have set - Lack of programmatic commitment Opportunities - Economic development consultant - Efficiency VT resources - Georgetown U. - VSECU + other financial institutions - Climate Action Champions – DOE - Solar Market – until December 31,2016 - NZ Models – active; Denmark, Europe - Improved vertical integration: State à Local - Carbon pollution tax movement - Technologies – LEDs, heat pumps - EAN dashboard - Weather contractors - City of Montpelier Transportation Committee Threat - Difficulty in solving transportation issues: beyond single city’s ability to take action (even though in Europe they’ve done it) - Solar tax credits potentially expire 12/31/16  - Low price of petroleum - Solar siting difficulties - Inconsistent quality among contractors - Climate change impacts exacerbating o Going faster; impacting infrastructure adversely + city budget - Adaptation will use up mitigation budget Identify Potential Actions Goal: GUEP as a priority - Target electric resistance heat + electric hot water for heat pump marketing - Host a home tour of homes that have done heat pumps, weather o Build upon existing home tour “Mont. Home Tour” o Do house parties - Promoting solar to businesses + residents; community solar o Facilitating community solar through education o Organizing a community solar project - Neighborhood Energy Maps – focus on energy use in high use neighborhoods - Take photographic record of solar installations o IR - Take whole house approach to energy, solutions – promoting, educating, facilitating, working w/ contractors Goal: Governing Structure - Elect officers – Pres., Vice-Pres., Secretary, who else? - Utilize (and create) subcommittees – line up with goals o Elect chairs of subcommittees - Look for ways to engage more Montpelier residents by inviting them to participate on subcommittee - Formalize decision making – more around sub-committee decisions - Clarify connection between MEAC recommendations + City Council, City Staff - Prepare a formal periodic report to City (quarterly); present to City Council (might or might not include recommendations) - Update bylaws – if necessary Goal: City of Montpelier Efficiency/Renewables - Identify + implement one project – potentially WWTF - Get in touch w/ Commons Energy - Organize “energy treasure hunt” (Kaizon) in municipal buildings - Work with city to do quarterly reporting of energy use – all energy use! - Work with City to set priorities – set up meeting with Public Works - Expand customer base of district heat - Establish milestone – review existing milestones + revise: Eg. Increase vehicle efficiency by 50% in 10 years - Integrate/increase accountability toward energy goals - Taylor Street project – help to influence Net Zero design Goal: Raise Funds for Paid Staff - Set up an energy fund from savings realized through energy projects (solar, efficiency) o Covers staffing o Future energy investments - MEAC has some say over expenditure of funds - Talk with DOE Climate Action Champions about connecting with funders - Explore external funding opportunities, grants through EPA, other - Green Infrastructure Bonds - Fee-bate program – add $.02/gallon to help pay for efficiency - Smart Parking Meters - Lobby legislature to pass carbon tax Goal: Public Engagement/Engaging Stakeholders/Education - Develop communication plan on what we want to communicate, how, who - Public display of progress – on-going (United Way thermometer idea) o Work w/ local colleges to design - Utilize/be active participants in EAN dashboard o Collect anecdotes/stories from public - Energy tips in City Manager – blurb in Bridge; monthly Energy column? - Hold regular/consistent public events - Utilize list/compile all the lists - New website - Better social media outreach Goal: Transportation – out of your car - Get rid of second, and third, cars - Reduce car traffic into Montpelier; open up parking spaces o Local rail idea o Offset parking for commuter - Promote parking-sharing - Promote Car Share; make it successful - Be an active participant in Montpelier Transportation Committee - Maximize program with VTrans - Work with State to get state employees to pay for parking - Finish the Darn bike path! Set Programmatic Priorities Adjourned at 9:00 PM