Energy Committee Minutes 05.21.24

June 10, 2024 Karen Hambleton Energy Committee, Minutes 0

In attendance: Sandra Bravo, Jenny Locke-Howley, Marlene Freyler, Susan Moss, Kathleen Bigford

Residents in attendance: Sam Bravo, Rett Weber

  • Review and approval of April Minutes
  • Q&A Residential Energy Tax Credits, Sam Bravo CPA, speaks on the function and mechanics of the Residential Energy Credits allowed by the IRS on Federal Income Taxes. (Note: There are no energy tax credits for local property taxes, however, the Town of Bradford will not raise your property taxes for making energy related improvements.
    • To claim Residential Energy Tax Credits use Form 5695 when you submit your federal tax return. Go to https://www.irs.gov and search 5695 and accompanying instructions. In order to obtain an energy credit, you must have a federal tax liability.
    • Part 1: Residential Clean Energy Credit. If you install solar, wind, or geothermal or qualified battery storage, you can take a 30% tax credit on the cost of this improvement. If this credit is more than your tax liability for the given year, you may continue to carry the excess credit forward for as many years as it takes to use the full 30% credit.
    • Part 2: Qualified Residential Energy Efficient Home Improvements. Includes: many types of weatherization such as insulation, air sealing, and Energy Star windows and doors (Look for the manufacturers certification). Also includes heat pumps, biomass stoves and electrical panel, etc.  upgrades. You can qualify for a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of these measures, but there are limits on the amount according to the improvement. For example, you can take 30% of the cost of a heat pump installation, up to a maximum of $2,000. You can take 30% on weatherization up to a maximum of $1,200 and up to $600 on Energy Star windows. You may be able to claim many individual credits in a single year subject to the annual limitations. You can continue to make improvements in the coming years and receive credits. Go to: https://www.irs.gov and search for energy efficient home improvement.

NOTE: Part 2 tax credits do not carry forward to future years. You must use the tax credit in the year in which you have paid and put in service the qualified home energy efficient improvement.

  • Community Power Update
    • The Bradford Community Power (BCP) information session on May 10, presented by Andrew Hatch, a consultant to the Community Power Coalition of NH (Coalition), was attended by 17 people, mostly from Bradford. Jamie Hess, Chair of the New London Energy Committee also attended, as did 4 people from Sutton and Sunapee who are interested in getting their towns to adopt Community Power. Questions and concerns included what to do if you didn’t receive an opt-in letter or weren’t sure of your status with Community Power, concerns that the customer service telephone line was always busy, and how to purchase electricity with a higher percentage of renewable power. (Can do online from the website, see below.) Bradford residents will see BCP on their July bill from Eversource. Jenny and Kathleen are our representatives to the Coalition. They will monitor the communications from the Coalition and attend some meetings. Karen is the administrator for BCP. You can go to the Coalition website where there is a link to Bradford. https://www.cpcnh.org/. Jenny will work with Karen to get BCP on the town website.
  • Town Hall Renovation Project – See Bradford Bridge for updates. With completion, we will no longer carry this item on our agenda.
  • Municipal Weatherization Status  
    • Fire Station Update. Awaiting an anticipated rebate of $11,871.50 from NHSaves.
    • Sandra summarized the financial investments made by the town to weatherize 4 municipal buildings. The Town received $40,619.84 from NHSaves for an investment of $101,538.10, resulting in a 40% discount.
  • Solar Energy – Harry Wright, Chair of the Bradford Historical Society expressed an interest in determining the feasibility of installing solar panels on Town property adjacent to BHS. Kathleen can get back to Harry about the feasibility.
  • Heat Pumps – Chief Nowell and Sandra are putting together the approval documents for the NHSaves incentive which is expected to be $500.He anticipates the installation of the heat pumps in July.
  • New Hampshire Network Update: For information on legislation and topics the Network is working on check out their website at https://www.newhampshirenetwork.org and on Social Media at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewHampshireNetwork/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/new_hampshire_network/

  • BEC Public Outreach
    • The May issue of the Bradford Bridge reported that an information session on Bradford Community Power was scheduled for Friday May 10, 6:00 pm.
    • Sandra wrote an article “Bradford Voters Embrace Energy Conservation and Efficiency for Municipal Buildings“.
    • KNP has included a story on Window Dresses in their report for the June issue.
  • Proposed articles for June Bridge?

For July: Susan to run an article on taxes by Sam. Jenny will put together a Graphic of the CPC bill.

  • Other Items: Kathleen is interested in Food Waste. Our Transfer Station is doing a good job of reporting on composting, which saves money by reducing waste in the compactor and reduces emitted greenhouse gases. Looking into Mill food recycler, a system that takes all food waste at home and turns it into animal feed.
  • Conclude: at 6:00 pm. Next meeting June 18th, 5-6pm, Town Hall