CT Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative CMEEC

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF CONNECTICUT MUNCIPAL ELECTRIC ENERGY COOPERATIVE AND CONNECTICUT TRANSMISSION MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ENERGY COOPERATIVE February 17, 2022 A Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee of the Boards of Directors of Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (“CMEEC”) and Connecticut Transmission Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (“CTMEEC” d/b/a Transco) was held via Zoom and telephonically on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting was legally noticed in compliance with Connecticut General Statutes and all proceedings, and all actions hereafter recorded occurred during the publicly open portions of the meeting. The following Committee Members participated telephonically or via Zoom: Bozrah Light & Power: Scott Barber Groton Municipal Representative: Mark Oefinger Jewett City Department of Public Utilities: Louis Demicco Jewett City Municipal Representative: George Kennedy Norwich Public Utilities: Chris Riley South Norwalk Electric and Water: David Westmoreland The following Non-Voting Members participated telephonically or via Zoom: Norwich Municipal Representative: David Eggleston East Norwalk Municipal Representative: Pete Johnson The following CMEEC Staff participated in person: Dave Meisinger, CMEEC CEO Robin Kipnis, Esquire, CMEEC General Counsel Margaret Job, CMEEC Paralegal and Compliance Specialist Others participated telephonically or via Zoom: Timothy Shea, Brown Rudnick David Silverstone, Esquire, Municipal Electric Consumer Advocate Ms. Job recorded. Committee Chair Louis Demicco called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. He explained that the meeting is being held via Zoom and telephonically. He asked that all participants’ devices remain on mute unless speaking to eliminate confusion and background noise. He requested that those speaking state their name before speaking for clarity of the record. After Ms. Job conducted roll call, Committee Chair Demicco confirmed a quorum was present. Specific Action Item A Public Comment Period No public comment was made. B Selection of Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Committee Chair Demicco opened the floor for nominations for the position of Chair of the Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee. Committee Member Scott Barber nominated Louis Demicco. There were no other nominations. A motion was made by Committee Member Scott Barber, seconded by Committee Member George Kennedy to re-elect Committee Chair Louis Demicco as Chair of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee for 2022. Motion passed unanimously. C Approve Minutes of the December 2, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee A motion was made by Committee Member Mark Oefinger, seconded by Committee Member Barber to Approve the Minutes of the December 2, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee. Motion passed unanimously. At this time Committee Chair Demicco entertained a motion to amend today’s Agenda by moving Agenda Item E before Agenda Item D. A motion was made by Committee Member Barber, seconded by Committee Member Oefinger to Amend today’s Agenda by moving Agenda Item E before Agenda Item D.  Motion passed unanimously. E Connecticut General Assembly Update: Tim Shea, Brown Rudnick Mr. Shea explained that the 2022 legislative session began on February 9, 2022. He walked the Committee through the Governor’s proposed budget highlighting that it includes proposals regarding tax relief, behavioral health, and climate change. Mr. Shea further explained that the Governor’s pandemic-related Executive Orders have been extended by the Legislature until June 30, 2022 stating that any further extensions will be reviewed by the Legislature. Mr. Shea explained that the energy focus for this session is mainly on climate resiliency, zero carbon efforts and electric vehicles as well as hydrogen, offshore wind, and battery storage. He further added that there are several bills that CMEEC is tracking, although none of them appear as of yet to directly impact CMEEC. Mr. Shea also informed the Committee that the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is in the scoping phase of a comprehensive energy strategy with comments due on March 3, 2022, to develop energy strategies going forward with a focus on resiliency and zero carbon. He added that the language of this scoping phase will be published within the next few weeks. Upon inquiry, Mr. Shea explained that there are existing bond funds available with money set aside for towns to develop qualifying microgrids. He also explained that a task force is in place discussing blending hydrogen into existing fuel cell supply to use in existing infrastructure. He added that there are some transportation pilot projects related to fleet vehicles as well as discussions related to a national hub for hydrogen. D New Committee Member Onboarding Book Ms. Kipnis walked the Committee through the New Committee Member Onboarding book. She explained that every Committee Charter requires that onboarding be conducted annually at the first meeting of a Committee for the purpose of familiarizing new Committee members with the responsibilities associated with membership on that Committee. All New Committee Member Onboarding books contain the minutes from the previous year as well as the Committee Charter and Committee Member contact information and the current roster of all Committees. The Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee New Committee Onboarding book also contains the CMEEC Lobbying Policy which was approved by the Board in 2020. Ms. Kipnis provided a high-level overview of the Committee’s activities in 2021 as memorialized in the 2021 meeting minutes and walked through the Committee’s charter noting that the most recent revisions were approved by the Board in January 2021.  Ms. Kipnis explained that the Committee generally meets prior to the beginning of the start of the Connecticut Legislative session, during the session and at the end for a wrap up of outcomes from the session. Ms. Kipnis then walked the Committee through the CMEEC Lobbying policy stating that it was adopted in 2020 and serves as a guide should a Director on the CMEEC Board or a Board Committee member engage in lobbying. Following discussion, the Committee agreed that at the start of every legislative session, CMEEC staff should present a brief refresher and reminder to the Board highlighting the Board’s obligations under this policy, and that this policy should also be discussed during onboarding sessions that are held for the Board. F Federal Update Ms. Kipnis reported on the infrastructure bill that was recently passed and stated that some of that money has been distributed. She added that CMEEC continues to watch for opportunities helpful to its members. Ms. Kipnis then reported that money might become available under the Build Back Better Act earmarked for climate action, however the bill has been stalled by Representative Manchin. She explained that there are some elements of the bill that could still pass related to direct payment to public power entities and tax credits for renewable energy sources. Ms. Kipnis added that there is a push for the equivalent of a tax credit for projects owned by public power entities, which would be designed to mimic tax credits that are available for private sector developers. G New Business • Discussion: Update on Legislative Rally Ms. Kipnis explained that this year’s APPA legislative rally will take place at the end of February. She added that the APPA has made this year’s rally an ‘in-person’ event however CMEEC has determined that discussions with congressional delegates will be held virtually as was the case last year. CMEEC is working with the delegates to create a schedule which will be shared with all participants. Ms. Kipnis urged all Committee members to participate in the virtual meetings with the congressional delegates, which meetings will occur later in March after the APPA rally has been concluded. • State Regulatory Matters Ms. Kipnis explained that the letters included with today’s packet of materials represent correspondence between Katie Dykes, DEEP Commissioner, and Gordon van Welie, President & CEO of ISO-New England. Commissioner Dykes’ letter was in response to the ISO-New England’s winter reliability press release describing possible rolling blackouts resulting from the forecasted extreme winter weather and  availability of fuel. Ms. Kipnis walked the Committee through Mr. van Welie’s response to Commissioner Dykes’ letter. She added that although a solution to the issues raised in the letters remains uncertain, CMEEC thought it prudent to alert the Committee to how the DEEP is responding to the matter. Mr. Shea added that before the legislative session began, the Energy & Technology Committee held a conversation with Mr. van Welie, Ms. Dykes, and electric distribution companies (EDC’s). He stated that the EDC’s contemplated writing a letter to Mr. van Welie requesting that the ISO-New England be more responsive. He added that he will look into whether the EDC’s wrote that letter. H Adjourn A motion was made by Committee Member David Westmoreland, seconded by Committee Member Barber to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 2:08 p.m.