Energy Advisory Committee

Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee (MEAC) Meeting April 17, 2017 Attendance: Kate Stephenson (Chair); Jared Duval, Anne Watson, Dan Jones, Dan Costin, Karl Johnson, Ken Jones, Paul Markowitz, Barbara Conrey. March Minutes: Dan moves acceptance. Karl seconds. All in favor. Unanimously approved. Bylaws: General consensus to align MEAC bylaws with City Council expectations re: membership/participation requirements. Review of responsibilities of committee membership, as provided by City: All members will be asked to sign. Cannot miss three consecutive meetings or more than one third of total meetings. Revised bylaws will be presented at next meeting, then brought to Council for approval. Committee Membership: Tim Terway has stepped down from the committee since he has moved to Barre. Agreed that Kate will talk to Jamie in city manager’s office re: posting for a vacancy on the committee. Committee Officers: Ken moves to re-elect existing slate of officers (Kate Stephenson as Chair, Jared Duval as Vice Chair) with the addition of Dan Costin as Secretary. Understanding and agreement that if there is interest from a committee member in serving as Chair in 2019, Jared will be willing to resign as Vice Chair so that that member can serve as Vice Chair for the remainder of 2018. Dan Jones seconded. Unanimously approved. Planning Retreat: Kate proposes a few hour retreat for committee planning, to be held at North Branch Nature Center. Karl, Paul, and Jared volunteer to help with planning. Kate will add weekday evening options of Mondays or Thursdays in May and June to the Doodle Poll. Suggestion of having a facilitator. Dan Jones will talk to Tino O’Brien about possibly facilitating. Preview of MEAC Slideshow for City Council: Kate gave a draft presentation and MEAC members provided feedback in preparation for the Council meeting on 4/25. Weatherize Montpelier Update: 65 people completed survey. Some waiting for site visits, some waiting for reports. 2 signed contracts to date. Hoping to have 30 signed contracts by end of process. Point of Sale Real Estate Efficiency Improvements Project Idea: Upper Valley Green Real Estate Network idea from Vital Communities. Paul will share info. Energy Audit/ Renewable Energy Development (EA/REDA Program of USDA Rural Development). See: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-energy-audit- renewable-energy-development-assistance Municipalities are eligible applicants. Funds can offset 75% of the cost of energy audits for businesses. Application Opens in Fall 2018, due in January 2019. May be worth looking into. Dan moves to adjourn. Barb seconds. All in Favor. Meeting adjourned at 8:34pm.