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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - AEC - 10/21/2019 .:, Town of Cohasset Massachusetts FINAL — APPROVED 11/18/2019 Meeting Minutes Alternative Energy Committee TIME: Monday, October 21, 2019 PLACE: Cohasset Town Hall at 7:30 pm, Kitchen Meeting Room ATTENDEES: Committee Members Excused Absences Guests Tanya Bodell Steve Girardi Paul Smith, Vivint Solar Bill Fusco Brian Host, Capital Planning Patricia Gooding Unexcused Absences Mary Jo Larson None Michael Schmitt Steve Wenner CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm. Attendees introduced themselves and provided contact information for a Committee contact sheet. As part of the introduction, the Committee discussed some of the monitoring efforts already underway to track and measure the effectiveness of Committee activities, including: • Monthly Dashboards — Bill Fusco developed and tracks the total impact of the solar energy array with monthly dashboards that combines daily information provided by Solar Edge (link to be provided) Alternative Energy Committee Tf AEC - Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` Massachusetts Page 2 • Regular Reports on the Town's Energy Consumption: As part of the Green Communities program, Cohasset is required to track its energy consumption and effectiveness of energy efficiency investments. Patricia Gooding did a tremendous job building the original baseline database. Michelle Leary staff at the Town and liaison to the Alternative Energy Committee now manages the updates and reports. Members of the Committee noted that these reports and links can be included on the Town website under the Alternative Energy Committee page. The Committee discussed how to ensure that the website data is up-to-date to reflect the new organization, membership and initiatives also is important. ACTION ITEM: Bill Fusco to send link to monthly dashboard and daily tracking to Tanya Bodell. ACTION ITEM: Patricia Gooding to ask Michelle for the most recent report on Cohasset's energy consumption and progress on meeting the Green Community Act's goals. ACTION ITEM: Tanya to make sure website is updated and ensure link to dashboards are included. The Committee then discussed what to present at the upcoming Special Town Meeting and agenda topics for the next two meetings (discussed in more detail in section 7). 1) APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES The meeting minutes from the last meeting are being finalized and will be submitted for approval next meeting. 2) MAPC-MANAGED GRANT FOR LED STREETLIGHT CONVERSION The Committee discussed the status of the implementation of LED streetlights and benefits to the Town. • The LED lights are installed. Alternative Energy Committee Tf Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` '` Massachusetts Page 3 • Rebate from National Grid for overcharging for streetlights that did not exist or were not working has been finalized. • New rate for LED lights is now being charged. • Energy cost savings to the Town is happening • Harbor initiative is looking to improve lighting around the harbor and will implement additional LEDs ACTION ITEM: Tanya to request information on the specifics regarding LED lights from Chris Senior and Brian Joyce for purposes of reporting on progress at Town Meeting. 3) COMMUNITY CHOICE ELECTRICITY AGGREGATION UPDATE Steve Wenner and Mary Jo Larson reported on the meeting that the Community Aggregation Subcommittee had with John O'Rourke of Good Energy and provided her notes from the meeting. Plans normally are 2 to 4 years long, but is likely to be around 3 years in the Cohasset Plan. The Plan would include three options: 1) 100% renewable 2) 26% renewable, or the highest amount of renewables at the current utility price 3) Lowest priced option that meets the state16% renewable obligation Cohasset residents would be automatically enrolled in the second option, with the ability to switch or opt out of the entire program at any time. Good Energy will provide significant support, including publicity and marketing around the Plan, public outreach and education in time for the Spring Town Meeting, shepherding the plan through the DOER and DPU review processes, managing the request for proposal process, monitoring and implementing the program, including regular reports. Tanya requested that Steve ask Good Energy for a timeline of activities to assist the Committee with vetting the Plan and socializing it to the Board of Selectmen and public. Mary Jo suggested that the most expedient route may be to invite John to speak with the broader Committee directly. Alternative Energy Committee AEC - Meeting Minutes Town of October 21, 2019 Y ;- Cohasset Page 4 �` Massachusetts ACTION ITEM: Steve Wenner to invite Good Energy to attend the November 18, 2019 meeting (see penultimate section on Next Meetings). Good Energy should be prepared to discuss: - Timeline of Plan finalization and implementation - Timeline of marketing activities - Role of Alternative Energy Committee - Role of Town staff - Future meetings/presentations to public, press and Town 4) MASS CLEAN ENERGY CENTER UPDATE Steve attended a webinar sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center on two programs: • Solarize Plus • Heat Smart Program The Town can submit a proposal to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center concerning a plan to sponsor these programs for its residents. Sponsorship would entail soliciting proposals from competitive vendors and publicizing options to Town residents. Although private citizens can pursue this as well, Towns are well positioned because they can work with the CEC and obtain consulting support and around $5,000 in funds for outreach and publicity. Proposals are due in November, making it too late to pursue this year. However, this may be an option for next November after the messaging and vote on community aggregation is passed. The Committee agreed to discuss this further at the December 91" meeting as part of the 2020 Strategic Plan for priorities. ACTION ITEM: Steve Wenner is to work with Patricia Gooding to put the topic of the MASS CEC programs on the agenda for the December meeting, including background information and other details to allow the Committee to assess costs and benefits of participation versus encouraging a private organization to implement the program. Alternative Energy Committee Tf Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Page 5 Massachusetts ACTION ITEM: ALL Committee members to think about initiatives or programs they would like to pursue in 2020 and provide to Patricia Gooding. ACTION ITEM: Patricia compile initiatives and ideas and organize an agenda for the December meeting. 5) GREEN COMMUNITY UPDATES The Committee discussed the status of Green Communities grant applications. Although Michelle Leary is focused on realizing grant opportunities, the Committee plays a role in ensuring that the Town is aware of such opportunities. To this end, it would be useful to have the Green Communities liaison, Seth Pickering, present to the Committee. ACTION ITEM: Patricia Gooding to invite Seth Pickering to meet with the Committee at an upcoming meeting (e.g., November or December) to discuss Green Communities grants and other opportunities going forward. The Town recently received $193,000 to implement: 1) LED purchases and installations 2) New, Energy Efficient Water Heater at the Cohasset High School Regarding the energy efficient water heater, the Town should be encouraged to pursue the most cost-effective energy efficient technology. Too often, contractors will simply recommend a more efficient replacement or new model. Given the 25-year life of these boilers and the Town's upcoming investment needs which may span 5 boilers/HVAC systems in the next five years, the Committee could play the following role in encouraging exploration of energy alternatives: • Town Meeting: Discuss the need to not just improve efficiency, but to optimize efficiency in public such as at the upcoming Town Meeting • Quarterly Meeting: During quarterly updates to the Board of Selectmen, the Committee should emphasize and remind about the need to pursue new technologies and optimize the opportunities for energy efficiency. Alternative Energy Committee Tf AEC - Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` Massachusetts Page 6 • Town Ha(( Renovation: Coordinate with members of the Town Hall Renovation Team to ensure that the he emphasizes optimizing efficiency as part of the Town Hall Renovation committee decisions. • List of Vendors: Coordinate with the Mass CEC and Seth Pickering of the Green Communities liaison to obtain a list of vendors focused on new technology installation that can receive grants and defray the upfront cost in exchange for energy efficiency savings, • Town WarrantArtic(e: Require that attention to optimizing cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities be made. Of these, the need for a Town Warrant article seemed excessive as the Committee felt that choosing the most cost-effective and energy efficient capital investment options should always be a focus of the Town. That said, a Town Warrant article is a way to codify the need to think outside the box given changing technologies and unprecedented opportunities for energy efficiency through partially paid investments that can last for decades. ACTION ITEM: Patricia to include interfacing with the Town on capital investment decisions as a topic for the December 91" Strategic Planning Session. ACTION ITEM: Patricia to ask Seth Pickering about a list of energy efficiency technology and installation vendors. ACTION ITEM: Steve Wenner to request a list of energy efficiency technology and installation vendors from the Mass CEC. ACTION ITEM: Tanya to include mention of the topic in the Town Meeting Committee Report. Alternative Energy Committee Tf Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Page 7 Massachusetts 6) NEW BUSINESS Paul Smith of Vivant Solar introduced himself and described Vivint Solar and its service offerings. He is the sales person responsible for Cohasset and Scituate, and formerly worked at Eversource and National Grid. He indicated that he would like a forum to educate the Town and its residents on solar options and Vivint's offerings. Tanya welcomed Paul and thanked him for coming. She noted that his request would be included for discussion at the Strategic Planning session where the Committee would determine its role in supporting/promoting private companies and, if this were to be a role for the Committee, determine whether such activity is a priority for 2020. She noted that all Alternative Energy Committee meetings were open to the public and encouraged him to attend future meetings subject to the condition that he not use the meetings as a public forum for repeatedly making sales pitches. 7) NEXT MEETINGS The Committee discussed how the newly reconstituted Alternative Energy Committee should present itself at Special Town Meeting and a schedule of and topics to be discussed at upcoming meetings. Meetings will be held the second Monday of the month going forward. If the second Monday is a holiday, the meeting will be held on the third Monday. Scheduled meetings and topics are as follows: • Monday, November 4, 2019: Town Meeting — Quorum to attend Town Meeting • Monday, November 18, 2019: Committee Meeting — Community Choice Aggregation Presentation, Timeline and Plan • Monday, December 9, 2019: Committee Meeting — Strategic Planning Session to brainstorm ideas and establish Committee Priorities for 2020 • Monday, January 13, 2019: Committee Meeting — Topic TBD and Preparation for quarterly presentation to the Board of Selectmen Alternative Energy Committee Tf AEC - Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` Massachusetts Page 8 ACTION ITEM: Tanya to send a calendar meeting invitation to Committee members and other invitees. Town Meeting — November 4th The Committee will have a quorum and will post a meeting to be compliant with open meeting laws, even though there is not likely to be any deliberation. At the Town Meeting, the Committee will highlight its role and the work that it is doing in three ways: 1) Attendance: Members of the Alternative Energy Committee should attend the Special Town Meeting, sit together, and wear green (optional). ACTION ITEM: All members to attend Town Meeting at the Cohasset High School on November 4 at 6:30 pm. 2) Poster Board: Members of the Alternative Energy Committee to greet people as they enter, described the newly reconstituted Committee and highlight a few initiatives with large poster boards with the following content: • Mission of the Committee emphasizing expanded role • Dashboard of accomplishments to date • Description of Community Choice Aggregation timeline ACTION ITEM: Steve Wenner to obtain a poster from Good Energy— offered at the last Community Aggregation subcommittee meeting — for display at the Town Meeting. ACTION ITEM: Bill Fusco to provide Tanya with most recent monthly dashboard that can be put into poster format. ACTION ITEM: Mary Jo Larson to send Tanya final description of the reconstituted Alternative Energy Committee approved by the Board 3) Committee Report to Town Meeting: Town Meeting normally allows for Committees to present reports. The Alternative Energy Committee will request time to present a summary, with visuals, of the following: Alternative Energy Committee Tf Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` '` Massachusetts Page 9 • Mandate of the Reconstituted Alternative Energy Committee — emphasizing the new mission and the expansion of the task from assessment of wind turbines for the Town to include other forms of energy and conservation measures for the town, its residents and businesses. • Committee Members: Identify Committee members with a focus on their qualifications and relationship/dedication to Cohasset. • Past Successes: Describe what the prior incarnation of the Committee did for the town with metrics in energy savings, carbon savings, and dollar value. Information will include: o Solar Energy Array (with dashboard) o Electric Vehicles o Green Communities Grants • Recent Success - LEDs: Highlighting the recent installation of LEDs around the town and the expected savings in energy, carbon and dollar value. • Current Initiatives: Summary of current initiatives underway, with emphasis on Community Aggregation, voted for by the Town at the last Town Meeting with timeline and communication of upcoming efforts to finalize a plan and educate the public and Town leadership on the plan for vote at the next Town Meeting. The collaboration with Good Energy who also is contracted with Scituate and Marshfield will be highlighted to illustrate combined purchasing power and broader geographical teaming effort. • Future Initiatives: Strategic Planning session on December 9t" to develop a list of targeted initiatives for 2020, which may some or all of the following including: o New Electric Vehicles for the Town o New charging stations for public use around Town o Establishing a microgrid around Town to increase resiliency and minimize the impact of outages on Town Services, residents and businesses Alternative Energy Committee Tf AEC - Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` Massachusetts Page 10 o Facilitation of solar and energy efficiency options for the Town and town residents • Meetings: Second Monday of month, unless it falls on a holiday, in which case it will be the Third Monday of the month at 7:30 pm in Town Hall or other posted location • Quarterly Reports to the Board of Selectman: Mandate to report quarterly to the Board of Selectman, of which this report is the first. • Public Participation: Encourage public participation in meetings and initiatives — great way to go green and save money ACTION ITEM: Mary Jo Larson to send Tanya list of initiatives and savings she compiled and presented to the Board of Selectman in support of officially constituting the Committee. ACTION ITEM: Steve Wenner to send Tanya 1-2 slides on the Community Aggregation effort and a visual timeline of key action items to be provided by Good Energy for inclusion in the AEC presentation at Town Meeting. ACTION ITEM: Patricia Gooding to coordinate with Michelle Leary to send the most recent report filed as part of the Green Communities Act and associated energy reduction metrics. ACTION ITEM: Tanya to develop a 5-10 slide presentation for presentation at Town Meeting. Alternative Energy Committee Tf Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` Massachusetts Page 11 Community Aggregation — November 18, 2019 The November meeting will be dedicated to Community Aggregation. Ideally, Good Energy will attend to assist the Committee in understanding its role in finalizing the Plan details, as well as implementing the socialization and marketing of the Plan to the public, press and Town. The Committee will share its understanding of the timeline of meetings for purposes of getting the Plan on the Town Meeting agenda for vote along with the presentation to and approval by the Board of Selectmen, Advisory Committee, and any other Town staff or committees that should be made aware of or approve the Plan. The representative from Good Energy should be scheduled to present at 8:00 pm so that the Committee can finish administrative activities and other discussion in advance. ACTION ITEM: Steve Wenner to invite Good Energy to attend the November 18, 2019 meeting. He should be prepared to discuss: - Timeline of Plan finalization and implementation - Timeline of marketing activities - Role of Alternative Energy Committee - Role of Town staff - Future meetings/presentations to public, press and Town Strategic Planning for 2020 — December 9, 2019 The Committee decided that the December meeting should be dedicated to a Strategic Planning Session to determine the priorities for 2020. Patricia Gooding offered to organize suggested ideas, participants and objectives for the December meeting so that the Committee can establish priorities ACTION ITEM: Patricia Gooding to coordinate and organize ideas and suggestions for discussion and prioritization by the Committee. The majority of the December meeting will be focused on identifying initiatives, prioritizing Committee efforts for 2020, and identifying champions for each initiative. Alternative Energy Committee Tf AEC - Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` Massachusetts Page 12 8) ADJOURNMENT Mary Jo Larson made a motion to adjourn which was seconded by Patricia Gooding, and unanimously approved at 9:45 pm. Respectfully submitted, Tanya Bodell Chair of the Alternative Energy Committee Alternative Energy Committee Tf Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` Massachusetts Page 13 APPENDIX A ACTION ITEMS The following lists the action items by person responsible for implementing: ALL MEMBERS • Attend Town Meeting at the Cohasset High School on November 4 at 6:30 pm. • Think about initiatives or programs they would like to pursue in 2020 and provide to Patricia Gooding TANYA BODELL • Request information on the specifics regarding LED lights from Chris Senior and Brian Joyce for purposes of reporting on progress at Town Meeting. • Send a calendar meeting invitation to the Committee and other invitees. • Develop a 5-10 slide presentation for presentation at Town Meeting. • Reference the assistance to the Town to optimize energy efficiency capital investment opportunities in the Town Meeting Committee Report. • Make sure website is updated and ensure link to dashboards are included BILL FUSCO • Send link to Tanya for monthly dashboard and daily tracking. • Provide Tanya with most recent monthly dashboard that can be put into poster format. PATRICIA GOODING • Coordinate with Michelle Leary to send the most recent report filed as part of the Green Communities Act and associated energy reduction metrics. • Coordinate and organize ideas and suggestions for discussion and prioritization by the Committee. The majority of the December meeting will be focused on identifying initiatives, prioritizing Committee efforts for 2020, and identifying champions for each initiative. • Work with Steve Wenner to put the topic of the Mass CEC programs on the agenda for the December meeting, including background information and other details to allow the Committee to assess costs and benefits of participation versus encouraging a private organization to implement the program. Alternative Energy Committee Tf AEC - Meeting Minutes ' =- ° ° October 21 2019 Cohasset ..x Jr` Massachusetts Page 14 • Include the topic of how the Committee can ensure the Town optimizes energy efficiency investment (especially in water heaters and boilers) as a topic for the December 9t" Strategic Planning Session. • Request a list of vendors for energy efficiency technologies and installers from Seth Pickering, • Invite Seth Pickering to meet with the Committee at an upcoming meeting (e.g., November or December) to discuss Green Communities grants and other opportunities going forward. MARY JO LARSEN • Send Tanya final description of the reconstituted Alternative Energy Committee approved by the Board. • Send Tanya list of initiatives and savings she compiled and presented to the Board of Selectman in support of officially constituting the Committee. STEVE WENNER • Work with Patricia Gooding to put the topic of the MASS CEC programs on the agenda for the December meeting, including background information and other details to allow the Committee to assess costs and benefits of participation versus encouraging a private organization to implement the program. • Obtain a poster from Good Energy — offered at the last Community Aggregation subcommittee meeting — for display at the Town Meeting on November 4, 2019. • Send Tanya 1-2 slides on the Community Aggregation effort and a visual timeline of key action items to be provided by Good Energy for inclusion in the AEC presentation at Town Meeting. • Invite Good Energy to attend the November 18, 2019 meeting. He should be prepared to discuss: o Timeline of Plan finalization and implementation o Timeline of marketing activities o Role of Alternative Energy Committee o Role of Town staff o Future meetings/presentations to public, press and Town Alternative Energy Committee