Energy Committee Minutes 10.15.24

October 23, 2024 Karen Hambleton Energy Committee, Minutes 0

In Attendance: Sandra Bravo, Kathleen Bigford, Laura Ryder, Marlene Freyler and resident Rett Weber

Review and approval of September Minutes

  1. Community Power Update – The Select Board has decided to join Bradford Community Power in order to get the lowest electricity rate for the municipal electric accounts.
  2. Municipal Weatherization Status
    1. Fire Station – Updated paperwork was submitted to NHSaves.
  3. Solar Energy – No update.
  4. Electrification
    1.  The Committee agreed that more research on life cycle assessments, electric batteries, etc., needs to be done prior to approaching department heads about Electrification opportunities.
    1. Info on heat pumps – no update.
  5. New Hampshire Network Update – no update.
  6. Legislative Updates
    1. A good place to stay on top of NH legislative updates is through the https://www.newhampshirenetwork.org/NH-bills
    1. See John Gage’s letter “Talk Climate With Candidates” For Green Energy Times – October-November, 2024 edition, and the Concord Monitor on October 9, 2024. John Gage is the New Hampshire State Coordinator for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a national, nonpartisan, grassroots climate solutions organization and he states “This year’s presidential election is the last one that matters for the goal of holding global warming to +1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.”
  7. BEC Public Outreach in October – Letter to the Editor “Our NH Climate is on the Ballot”
  8. Proposed articles for November Bridge
    1. Residential Solar Energy issues and choices
    1. Letter to the Editor about impact of election choices on mitigation of climate change.
  9. Other Items
    1. Update on Group Net Metering – After reviewing the information below, the Committee decided not to pursue further discussions with Roofless Solar at this time.

Requests for proposals for suppling municipal electricity were sent out by Maureen Brandon to multiple suppliers in mid-September including to Roofless Solar. Erin Aldonis of Roofless Solar (Community Solar Platform Holdings, LLC) responded:

1. Bradford will receive a “guaranteed savings of 20% on solar credits for the life of the program.

  1. There are no out-of-pocket costs for the Town to participate in the program, no solar panels installed on the Town’s properties.
  1. Municipalities may participate in Group Net Metering while simultaneously participating in community power aggregation.” 
  1. Based on a municipal load of 106,428 kWh, 20% discount starting in Q4 2025, estimated annual savings of $2,252 and estimated lifetime savings of $45,040 (20 year life without rate inflation adjustments).
  1. Minimum group net metering facility in NH is 1MW and Bradford’s load would require only 75kW facility. Potential to pool neighboring towns’ electricity consumption or 75kW would have to be carved out from another Community Solar Platform Holdings facility under construction? Sandra has reached out to New London and Newbury.
  1. Recycling Styrofoam – Sandra will continue to pursue opportunities including a potential Styrofoam Collection Day in Bradford

  1. About 85 postcards stating “Our NH Climate is on the Ballot” were mailed to undeclared infrequent voters in Bradford. Messaging stated “in our community we’re concerned about:
  1. Increased risk to human health.
  2. Flooding from intense rain events.
  3. Impacts to farms, forests and recreation from droughts and high temperatures.
    1. NHSaves opportunities for Bradford businesses – no update.
    1. Inflation Reduction Funds availability – Susan reported that there is no new information on funds from the Inflation Reduction Act over what was reported in the September meeting. Funds should come online sometime in 2025, are not retroactive and will be available for people who make up to 150% of the median income for our area. 
  4. Conclude