Meeting at BACC 5:00-6:30 pm: Attended by: Sandra Bravo, Kathleen Bigford, Marlene Freyler, Susan Reeder Moss
Review and approval of May and June Minutes – Approved
- Town Hall Renovation Project – Update
The BEC, Town Administrator and Selectboard representative will participate in a meeting with NHSaves, DMI, the Eversource energy contractor, and Trumbull Nelson to define lines of communication and energy goals of the project. Level of NHSaves incentive will be based on the KWH savings above what would be realized from meeting basic code on lighting, insulation and HVAC. Could be around $11,000. An advocate from Brooklands Design, Dana O’Brien, will also assist the town on meeting energy goals.
- Bradford Energy Goals – transitioning to 100 percent reliance on renewable sources of electricity by 2030 and renewable sources of fuel for heating and transportation by 2050.
- The BEC reached out to Fire, Highway, BACC, Library, Police and the Transfer Station to discuss potential energy improvements. A draft summary of the findings was discussed at the BEC meeting. The summary information was presented to the Selectboard on June 27. The BEC was requested to obtain estimates for the items. Following the meeting the BEC was provided with the CIP Project Form required for costs of $10,000 and more. The Fire Chief will speak with the Newbury Fire Dept to find out more about their ESM’s and vendors from their recent building project.
- Update on Renewal of Municipal electricity contract. Bradford has a contract with NEXTera Energy to provide electricity to the Municipality for $0.11920 per kWh which expires on 12/20/22. The BEC requested from the Town’s energy broker, the Atlantic Energy Group, pricing information for the State of NH minimum requirements for green energy (current contract) and for 100% green energy. The 100% green energy option would result in an increase to the Town bill of $167/year. Sandra will bring this to the next Selectboard meeting.
- Community Power opportunities. The NH PUC missed the July 5 deadline for promulgating Community Power regulations and instead stated the regulations would be released July 27, 2022. The hope is that municipalities could offer their residents clean energy options at better prices. Until the time that this option is available, we could still educate residents on clean energy options that can be taken by individual households.
- Government Non-profit Agency
- Community Power Coalition of NH
- Commercial Energy Brokers
- Standard Power/Good Energy
- Freedom Energy logistics/Colonial Power
- Government Non-profit Agency
- Municipal Weatherization Status – Highway Garage Update – waiting for receipt of materials to make repairs to damaged overhead door frame before the weatherization can be done. The hope is to complete the weatherization work in October and we will keep NH Saves in the loop if there are continued delays.
- Solar Energy
- Highway and Town Hall Solar Feasibility Updates – No news. We need to seek additional vendors to look at individual buildings and community solar array possibilities so that if and when the grid is expanded, Bradford could move forward.
- Kearsarge Climate Action Items
- Ten Towns, Ten Actions Toolkit to Reduce Plastic Waste – The BEC will post our activities for Plastic Free July on the statewide Ten Towns website.
- E-bike Loan Program New London Whipple Hall 7/20 – 8/9/22. Volunteers (7/30-8/10) and e-bike riders are needed. Posters in PDF format will be posted in Town. The Bridge will remind readers of this great opportunity to both volunteer and borrow an E-Bike.
- EV Show – scheduled 9/24 noon to 4pm at New London Historical Society. Volunteers needed. However, this conflicts with our Town Day Celebration here in Bradford.
- Heat Pumps – We are looking for people who are successfully using Heat Pumps in the winter months to share their experience with us. We know they work well to meet cooling and dehumidifying needs, but can they provide enough heat during a winter cold snap?
- Improving Public Presence of BEC
- Article in July issue of The Bradford Bridge – Bradford Takes on Single Use Plastics in July. Plastics reduction activities were conducted as follows:
- Kearsarge Food Hub July 2, 2022 Community Event – BEC sponsored a Plastic-Free table. Participants learned to fold a seed starting pot from Newspaper and took home sunflower seedlings. Other info on plastics was posted at the BEC tent.
- July 13, 2022 – Showing of the movie “Microplastic Madness”, brought to you by the Brown Memorial Library and the Bradford Conservation Commission. Great movie should be seen by more people. Looking into other larger audience possibilities: Schools, KFH, etc.
- July 15, 2022 – Make your own beeswax wrapper at Brown Memorial Library to avoid using plastic wrap sponsored by the BEC and Brown Memorial Library.
- Article in the July Bradford Bridge about Borrowing an E-Bike for Free.
- Bradford Town Day 9/24/2022 – BEC will have a presence. Offer kid friendly activity. May also provide info on energy supplier choices.
- Town of Bradford Facebook page. Sandra will post info on the E-Bike loan program.
- Other Suggestions:
- Encourage Bradford citizens to ask questions of candidates as they run for national, state and local offices. It is important that we elect people who will support clean energy.
- Get our articles to the Intertown Press as well as the Bradford Bridge.
- Article in July issue of The Bradford Bridge – Bradford Takes on Single Use Plastics in July. Plastics reduction activities were conducted as follows:
- Energy Opportunities for Bradford – Re: ARPA Funds and Grants and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill – No new news.
- Conclude – Next meeting on Tuesday August 16, 2022, 5-6:30pm at BACC.