Energy Advisory Committee

Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee Montpelier City Hall November 21, 2017 7:00 p.m. Attendance: Members: Kate Stephenson, Chair; Cara Robechek; Karl Johnson; Dan Costin; Amy Gamble; Geoff Fitzgerald; Paul Markowitz; Brent Ehrlich; Dan Jones; Barbara Conrey; Ken Jones; Councilor Anne Watson Other Attendees: Eric Vorwald, Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission; Philip Picotte Approval of Agenda: On a motion by Geoff Fitzgerald, seconded by Cara Robechek, the agenda was approved. Approval of October Minutes: On a motion by Dan Jones, seconded by Geoff Fitzgerald, the October minutes were approved as prepared. Public Comment: No public comment was offered. Presentation on Municipal and Regional Energy Planning: Eric Vorwald, a senior planner with the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, presented CVRPC’s efforts to develop a regional energy plan consistent with Act 174 as passed by the Legislature in 2016. The regional energy plan aims to support the state goal of meeting 90% of Vermont’s energy needs with renewable energy by 2050. A draft regional energy plan was completed in June 2017, and the Commission is now soliciting public comment. Ultimately, work to reach the state’s 90%-by-2050 goal will require local planning and action. However, Act 174 planning is voluntary for municipalities. The law was intended to give more weight to municipalities in proceedings before Public Utility Commission (“substantial deference”) after once municipalities are awarded a Certificate of Energy Compliance for local energy plans. Elements of Regional Energy Plan The Regional Energy Plan must contain (1) Analysis and targets, including baseline; (2) pathways and implementation actions, and (3) mapping, including constrained areas hindering renewable resource development. Energy modeling as part of the analysis and targets section has identified the need for major efficiency improvements and a transition from gasoline and fuel oil to other fuel sources through strategic electrification. (Heavy vehicles could be fueled with a biodiesel mixture.) The regional energy plan expects a significant increase in deployment of roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar PV. Municipal goals are aligned with regional goals proportioned per capita based on residence; hence, Montpelier’s “share” of regional goals are based on full-time residents and exclude the sizable daytime commuter population. In the regional energy plan, implementation actions are categorized in four ways; (a) efficiency; (b) reducing transportation demand and single occupancy vehicles; (c) land use patterns and density; and (d) siting of renewable energy generation. The mapping section offers resource areas, geographic constraints, and ideal locations prioritized for renewable development under recent changes to net metering rules (e.g. brownfields, gravel pits, etc.). Notably, the plan indicates that energy development cannot be restricted in a particular location unless all other development is also restricted. However, a project’s scale can be limited, such as limiting development to “residential scale.” Regional Energy Plan Process CVRPC aims to adopt the regional energy plan in February or March 2018, and expects it will be certified by Public Utilities Commission by June 2018. CVRPC has prepared analysis and mapping for each municipality. Thus, each municipality that chooses to draft a compliant local energy plan would only have to focus on implementation piece. Discussion Municipalities can identify preferred locations for renewable energy development, either through this planning process or through a letter certifying that a proposed project is preferred. The mapping already prepared by CVRPC can be used as a reference tool. Eric confirmed that the regional plan would encourage activities such as the City’s proposed expansion of methane generation capacity at the wastewater treatment plant. This local generation would be counted towards the regional energy plan’s MWh target. Electricity generation from the wastewater treatment plant could help Montpelier meets its goals. Barbara confirmed that the Energy Advisory Committee is working with City staff and other committees to develop an energy plan for Montpelier to meet the law’s objectives. Georgetown University Energy Prize Update: Montpelier is included among the 10 finalist cities for the Georgetown University Energy Prize, and is the only New England city represented. Dan Jones and Jeff Fitzgerald suggested the efficiency improvements at the wastewater treatment plant made a significant contribution to energy efficiency achievements. The final decision is based only on the final report that has been submitted by each finalist, and an announcement is expected in late December. Home Tours and Button Up Events: Four home tours were completed, with attendance between 3 and 16 people at each tour, with a total attendance around 50. Multiple Button Up tabling events engaged hundreds of people, and the checklist was particularly useful for showcasing Button Up actions. The Committee has completed its Button Up commitment, and future public engagement activities can make use of the 150 remaining LED lightbulbs. Work Group Updates: Residential: No updates were offered beyond the Home Tours and Button Up activities described above. Transportation: Cara Robechek discussed the ongoing conversation about school bussing. Dan Costin said the police vehicle anti-idling proposal is not complete, and that the report from the Burlington Police Department pilot project is expected soon. Anne Watson discussed plans to blend biodiesel with the City’s standard diesel fuel in summer months. Biodiesel procurement, if approved by the City Council, would go out to bid. Anne also noted that the Council considered the alternative transportation fund’s 5-year plan in the projected budget. The Council encouraged the committee to think more broadly about the “alternatives” supported, such as non- infrastructure investments (e.g., bus routes, carpooling, ridesharing). The transportation infrastructure committee defines alternative transportation as options other than single occupancy vehicles, thus electric vehicles are not necessarily included. Municipal: Geoff and Kate have been working with ESG to develop a website describing the wastewater treatment plant project. The project is currently at 30% design stage, and ESG has been getting positive feedback about the project from local haulers and organics suppliers. The next ESG decision point will occur in mid-December, and the Council will need to approve the project to be placed on the ballot in March for a bond vote. The Council will hear an update about the project on December 13. A second Council meeting would be December 20 or January 3. Energy audits of six municipal buildings are completed. The consultants’ reports will be ready by the end of December. The municipal working group plans to review the reports and make recommendations for projects in 2018 that could be implemented with funds from the Revolving Loan Fund. Planning: Most of the past month has been working on the Georgetown University Energy Prize final report. Announcements: The Unitarian Church is exploring how to make a commercial net zero facility with participation by solar and biomass contractors as well as Efficiency Vermont. The church has completed three years of weatherization work while also accounting for the historic preservation concerns; energy savings have been significant thus far. Downstreet Housing has installed a biomass boiler at its River Station building and are looking to add biomass to other buildings in Montpelier. The existing oil boiler is being kept as a backup. The recent Energy Action Network summit had good Montpelier representation, and the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network conference is scheduled for December 2. Maura Adams from the Northern Forest Center is working on a modern wood heat initiative. Their program is looking for pilot communities to assist with outreach; she plans to attend the December MEAC meeting. Adjournment: On a motion by Geoff Fitzgerald, seconded by Karl Johnson, the meeting adjourned at 8:35.