Climate Smart Task Force

Minutes Climate Smart Task Force of Saratoga Springs 2/21/2024 I. In Attendance: Chair Laura Faulk, Rayna Caldwell, Jennifer Ferriss, Jim Gallagher, Tara Donadio, Jacob Gardner City Staff in Attendance: Beige Berryman, Heather Crocker, Michael Dutre Absent: Jamil Khan, Deirdre Ladd, Brooke VanBuskirk II. Public Comment: No members of the public were present to comment. III. Approval of January Minutes: The minutes were accepted as approved. Michael Dutre will post to the City site. IV. Climate Action Plan: Michael Dutre reported that City Staff met with C&S, CAP consultant and they provided a draft project schedule. It will be finalized once Saratoga Associates, sub- contractor can review to avoid any potential scheduling conflicts. Future bi-monthly meetings will include Task Force members as needed. Additionally, the City has decided not to pursue Flex-Tech and expanding the scope of the CAP due to budget and time constraints. Chair Faulk outlined that the City should consider how they will utilize Taylor Ross, C&S Project Engineer. Michael Dutre continued, in the next three months C&S plans to produce: A preliminary list of Climate Actions, Draft Outline of the CAP and expects to see progress in the GHG Inventory Process. Jim Gallagher added there should be time for the City and Task Force to provide feedback to C&S. V. NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities 3.0: Michael Dutre updated the group that he is working with Tara Donadio to submit data to NYSERDA for additional CEC points. Michael Dutre also reached out to the subcontractor working on the LED Streetlight Conversion to provide a metrics workbook that would lead to additional CEC points and match-free Climate Smart grants. Heather Crocker included that there is a third type of light in the City that may be included in the conversion. Michael Dutre thanked Heather Crocker for pointing this out and for taking care of the Power Purchase Agreement Credits related to the Solar Park. Chair Faulk explained that one of the EV chargers in the City Center has an award look-back date that is eligible for CEC points although it isn’t clear if it’s National Grid, NYPA or City owned equipment. Michael Dutre will reach out to his  contacts to find out. Chair Faulk highlighted the EV, Community Solar and Heat Pump campaigns also award CEC points. Chair Faulk won’t be available during the Sustainability Fair at Skidmore on April 13th at 10am but a Climate Smart tabling presence with flyers could potentially get community buy-in. Tara Donadio mentioned that National Grid has a service where they can auto-populate benchmarking data so City Staff doesn’t have to request this data annually. VI. Waste Management: Chair Faulk set up a tour of the Bethlehem Compost Facility on May 9th at 1pm. Next Meeting: March 20th 2024 at 9 am