Energy Committee Minutes 06.18.24

June 24, 2024 Karen Hambleton Energy Committee, Minutes 0

At Town Hall. In attendance: Sandra Bravo, Kathleen Bigford, Marlene Freyler, Laura Ryder, Jenny Locke Howley.

  • Approval of May minutes
  • Community Power Update

Our residential July Eversource bills will display Bradford Community Power (BCP) as the supplier. Eversource has submitted a request to the NH Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to raise the distribution rate (the delivery charge) to take effect in August. All Eversource customers would be affected by this. (Note: On our electric bills, BCP bills for Supply and Eversource bills for delivery.)

www.eversource.com/nh-rate-case.

  • Municipal Weatherization Status.

The town is still waiting for the $11,871.50 NHSaves rebate for Fire Department weatherization.

  • Heat Pumps

Chief Nowell has submitted an application to NHSaves for a rebate on heat pumps to be installed in July. Important to note that heat pumps provide AC in the hot weather.

  • New Hampshire Network Update. Lots of legislation to keep track of.

No major wins for clean energy in this session.

  • Legislative Updates
  • A good place to stay on top of NH legislative updates is through

https://www.newhampshirenetwork.org/NH-bills

  • Energy and Environmental updates, June 3, from Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Attached at the end of the minutes.

  • BEC Public Outreach
  • Questions about how the town gives a break on property taxes for adding solar upgrades etc. Bradford’s property tax policy states that clean energy updates such as a solar installation will not increase the property taxes on a home.
  • Jenny is putting a sample electric bill in the July Bradford Bridge so that residents may better understand their new combined Eversource/BCP bill.
  • Susan is writing an article to explain how federal tax credits work for Clean Energy upgrades.
  • Other Items
  • The Town Administrator received a RFP 2024-006 Municipal Solar Grant Program from the NH Department of Energy. The BEC reviewed the request and recommended Bradford not pursue the grant opportunity because we have no proposed solar projects in the works and the deadline to apply is Aug 1st.
  • Group Net Metering for Schools and Municipalities. Roofless Solar, a wholly owned brand of Community Solar Platform, provides renewable energy for municipalities and schools at a discount. The town’s electric supply contract is up in November and Karen is monitoring electricity prices. Sandra will contact Roofless Solar to find out more.
  • Food Waste. Uneaten food produces 4% of greenhouse gas emissions. Lois has been encouraging people to compost food waste at home or bring to the Transfer Station where she and Kenny compost. Laura will talk with Lois about grants from the Department of Agriculture to create pilot programs in communities to address food waste. 
  • ACEEE- Barriers to Electrification. Federal program to improve access to energy retrofit upgrades for low-income residents.
  • Conclude: next meeting will be help on Tuesday, July 16, 5-6pm, Town Hall

Energy & Environment Federal Updates-June 3

Below are Federal environment and energy (E&E) updates from the past month. I am also attaching last month’s newsletter as a reminder of grant announcements from the previous month. Please do not hesitate to reach out if Senator Shaheen can be helpful to you and your community or organization. 

 Senator Shaheen Updates: 

  • In May, Senator Shaheen toured the Cottages at Back River Road in Dover to learn more about the affordable energy-efficient housing project. The brand new, 44-unit affordable housing development project is utilizing clean energy technologies and resources to provide affordable housing to Granite Stater’s. To read more, click here.
  • Last week, Senator Shaheen, visited Lake Winnipesaukee to highlight more than $550,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending she secured to support the Lake Winnipesaukee Association’s efforts to mitigate storm water runoff and erosion and make watershed plans for the lake. To read more about her visit click here.
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announced the recipients of the 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition. $31 million in rebates will help purchase 110 clean school buses in nine school districts across New Hampshire. Congratulations, to the following schools!
    • Litchfield SAU Office selected to receive $2,760,000 in rebate funding to purchase 8 clean school buses.
    • Derry Cooperative SAU selected to receive $8,665,000 in rebate funding to purchase 25 clean school buses.
    • Hudson School District selected to receive $3,200,000 in rebate funding to purchase 16 clean school buses.
    • Concord SAU Office selected to receive $1,035,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses.
    • Nashua SAU Office selected to receive $6,830,000 in rebate funding to purchase 22 clean school buses.
    • Lisbon Regional School District selected to receive $345,000 in rebate funding to purchase 1 clean school bus.
    • Moultonborough School District selected to receive $2,415,000 in rebate funding to purchase 7 clean school buses.
    • Hanover School District selected to receive $600,000 in rebate funding to purchase 3 clean school buses.
    • Pembroke School District selected to receive $5,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase 25 clean school buses.
  • Senator Shaheen celebrated EPA announcement that $28,650,000 is coming to New Hampshire for lead pipe replacement. This is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
  • Senator Shaheen welcomed $3,019,400 in grants from the EPA to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Jaffrey and Nashua. This was funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To read more about the announcement, click here.
  • Last month, the U.S. Forest Service announced grant funding to spark innovation, create new markets for wood products and renewable wood energy from sustainably sourced wood, and increase the capacity of wood processing facilities. Congratulations, Durgin and Crowell Lumber Co., Inc. and Hancock Lumber, each awarded $1 million. You can read more here.
  • USDA Forest Service also announced 2024 grant awards for the Community Forest Program. Congratulations to Town of Newfields ($600,000), Town of Meredith ($154,000) and Upper Saco Valley Land Trust ($400,000)! Read more these projects here.
  • The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Phase 1 winners of the Solutions for Lasting, Viable Energy Infrastructure Technologies (SOLVE IT) Prize. Congratulations, Clean Energy NH with the towns of Seabrook, Hampton and Lee!
  • U.S. DOE announced 13 projects selected to expand the impact of DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Supported by $25 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the projects will collaborate with community partners to perform innovative and comprehensive energy-saving repairs and upgrades to make low-income homes more climate resilient and lower energy costs for families. Congratulations, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, Inc. awarded $1.8 million!
  • Senator Shaheen applauded a $2,415,600 investment from the Department of the Interior’s Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) in the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in New Hampshire to conserve 1,779 acres for waterfowl habitat conservation efforts. To read more about the MBCC, click here.
  • Senator Shaheen congratulated the University of New Hampshire on being awarded the overall winner of the Department of Energy’s 2024 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition. UNH topped 17 competing teams at the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust’s Ocean Renewable Energy Conference in Portland, Oregon from May 20th – 23rd. UNH also won the Technical Design Challenge and Business Plan Challenge at the conference. To read more, click here.

Federal Grants & Programs Announced:

Please reach out if we can be helpful in identifying grants or writing a letter of support for a federal grant. Below are a couple of grants and programs that were announced last month. For a complete list of IRA and BIL grants & programs please check out the IRA Guidebook and the BIL Guidebook.  New resource! Check out EPA’s Clean Energy Finance Tools and Resources.

  • The U.S. Department of the Treasury opened applications for the 2024 Program Year of the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program. More information about the program, and eligibility can be found here. The application closes on June 27, 2024.
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the sign-up period for select Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) applications from May 10, 2024, to June 28, 2024. The extension is for Conservation Plan Activity (CPAs), Design, Implementation Activity (DIAs), and Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs). You can learn more about CPAs, DIAs, and CEMAs here. To apply, find your NRCS service center here.
  • The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has opened pre-proposal applications for its 2024 Vessel Strike Avoidance Fund to develop and implement new technologies to reduce vessel strikes of the endangered North Atlantic right whale. To see more information, click here. The pre-proposal due date in June 25, 2024.
  • The Department of Transportation announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program. This is a historic $1.3 billion funding opportunity for electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. This is the largest single grant funding opportunity for EV charging in the nation’s history and it will accelerate public and private investment in clean transportation in the places where people live, work, and play.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2024 Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles Grant Program application is still open. The grant provides $1 billion through the Inflation Reduction Act to offset the costs of replacing Class 6 and 7 heavy-duty commercial vehicles with zero-emission vehicles. To learn more about the program, click here. The program deadline is July 25, 2024.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2024 Brownfields Job Training Grants application is still open. The grant provides $10 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to enable nonprofits, local governments, coalitions, and organizations to recruit, hire, and train unemployed and under-employed residents within areas impacted by brownfield sites. To learn more, click here. The application closes August 2, 2024.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2024 Environmental & Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program application is still open. This program provides $2 billion through the Inflation Reduction Act to environmental and climate justice activities in disadvantaged communities. To find more information, click here. Applications are accepted on a rolling bases through November 21, 2024.
  • U.S. Small Business Administration announced the removal of its cap on the 504 Lending Program on clean energy projects. Small businesses can now bundle multiple 504 loans to finance projects that utilize clean energy technology to retrofit buildings, improve energy efficiency, and contribute towards emission reduction goals. To find more information, click here.
  • U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Petroleum Reserves announced a solicitation for the sale and liquidation of 1 million barrels (42 million gallons) of gasoline in the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve (NGSR). This solicitation is strategically timed and structured to maximize its impact on gasoline prices, helping to lower prices at the pump as Americans hit the road this summer. Read more here.