Energy Advisory Committee

Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee Draft Meeting Minutes City Manager’s Conference Room February 20, 2018 7:00 - 8:30 P.M. Members Present: Kate Stephenson, Geoff Fitzgerald, Barbara Conrey, Brent Ehrlich, Paul Markowitz, Ken Jones, Dan Jones, Tim Terway (minutes), Amy Gamble, Anne Watson, Jared Duval Attendees: Phillip Peacot Introductions Agenda and Minutes § Barbara Conrey moves to approve agenda. Geoff seconds. All in favor. § Ken Jones move to approve minutes. Dan seconds. All in favor. No public comment A. Weatherize Montpelier Update – Paul Markowitz § Approximately 25 households attended Weatherize Montpelier Event held at VSECU on February 15, 2018 § 4 contractors present § VSECU, GMP representatives present § 18 people requested walkthrough so far § 40 people signed to list so far § Targets: 100 people sign up for free energy audit walk through; 50 people have the work done § March 31st 2018: Final day to sign up for free energy audit walk through and complete survey § After March 31st: getting people who have signed up to move forward with walk through and weatherization § $500 cash prize to someone who follows through on weatherization § Discussion over how to know if someone is income eligible for Capstone: 60%-80% Area Median Income qualifies; contractors should know to ask in negotiation Upcoming Weatherize Montpelier Items § Testimonials from those who have weatherized are coming in The Bridge § Jared Duval hosting home tour for public to see weatherization efforts, Saturday, February 24, 2018, 10:30-Noon, advertised via Front Porch Forum, Facebook, email § Tabling opportunities: o Can’t table at indoor winter farmer’s market o COOP is open for tabling  o Town meeting day open for tabling § Amy Gamble, Ken Jones, Dan Jones, Barbara Conrey will table in 2 hour shifts at Town Meeting Day § Residential group to split up remaining people who have signed up to follow through on check-ins B. Working Group Updates Transportation § Dan Jones reports on Sustainable Montpelier Coalition-led transportation forum held Monday, February 12, 2018 § Takeaways: representatives of employers are less concerned about Montpelier-based workers but rather those of commuters: where will satellite parking go? How will disruptions to existing parking affect commuters? § State employees representatives still need to be engaged § Micro-Transit Efforts: o On-demand fleet of vehicles assigned by who wants a ride (not fixed route) o Roughly 7 minute response time; hailed by smart phone app o May be led by GMT or new entity (e.g. Co-operative) o SMC currently in talks with two vendors: Chariot and VIA § VIA offered to come up in late spring to geolocate a neighborhood and provide a live demonstration of their software and how it works; possible press event opportunity § Roundtable will lead to larger public forum in 2018 § Ken Jones: city knows it must address loss of parking associated with new construction projects, crunch roughly January 2019 when session is in § GMT open to rescheduling all of existing Montpelier routes due to construction § Possible remote parking lot locations: Elm St. Swimming Pool, Old Brown Derby lot, Baseball field § Phillip Peacot: GMT in Washington County looking to remove on-bus fare boxes and make rides free within next year or two; all cities touched by GMT route co-fund the bus § ~$1500/yr. costs per parking spot in Montpelier Policy and Planning § Waiting on new city council formation; city planning wants to wait until new zoning in place § Looking to identify preferred size for solar that gets net metering benefits § Regional energy plan: group feels it was not suited to be presented to regional planning commission but it was § Montpelier planning commission to look at regional energy plan soon § Micro-hydro opportunities/constraints discussion Municipal Group  § ESG waste-to-energy is currently on-hold, end of February DPW to clarify what it thinks of plant upgrades § Estimated ~$9 million alone for aging infrastructure to be addressed § Possible special bond vote in August 2018 § Municipal audits back, looking for use of up to $20k of revolving loan fund with low- hanging fruit projects: e.g. sensors, fixtures § Projects with relatively short payback period: from 6 months to 2.5 years average; longest 7 years § Feasibility of Retro-commissioning projects: o Fire Station Ice Melting o District Heat Loop infrastructure o Water Treatment Plant § Municipal group will coordinate prioritization of remainder of CX energy audit recommendations; break it down by individual building § DPW solar array has been underperforming for 3-4 years due to faulty inverter § Looking into cutting city fuel use with biodiesel; in contact with Black Bear who have addressed municipal concerns o Currently ~1/3 of content of 2 municipal tanks is sold to users outside of city § Presented to VT League of Cities and Towns about the revolving loan fund C. Georgetown / GUEP Finalist Showcase – Washington, D.C. § Dan Jones to travel to Washington on behalf of MEAC to represent efforts on March 14- 16, 2018 § Pulling together materials for ~20 minute presentation: executive summary from GUEP proposal; images, stories of projects needed Meeting adjourned at 8:27 P.M.