Meeting held at the BACC 5:00-6:00 pm
In attendance: Sandra Bravo, Kathleen Bigford, Laura Ryder, Mel Pfeifle and Devin Pendleton, Library Trustee
1. Review and approval of May Minutes.
2. Status of Energy Audit of Library:
A revised estimate for energy saving measures (ESMs) received from Shakes to Shingles encompassing air sealing of the entire attic, interior work and insulation on the left and right sides of the attic (basement insulation was excluded as being the lowest priority) for $14,301 was resubmitted to NHSaves. The project was approved and the Town was notified it will receive a rebate of $5,005.35 resulting in a shortfall of $6,301 ($14,301 – $8,000 already approved on warrant). It was confirmed that the NHSaves program requires municipalities to pay the total cost of the project upfront. Rebates are usually issued with 4-6 weeks of completion of the project.
Devin Pendleton, Library Trustee attended the meeting and stated that the Library would like the project to move forward and will look into funding the outstanding balance. We will look toward private donations to offset some of the costs.
3. Status of ESM’s at BACC, Highway Dept, Fire Dept.
There are several ways forward, including each individual department requesting the funds through the budget/CIP process, or the possibility of packaging all three for a separate warrant process for 2022.
The BEC recently received a recommendation that the most efficient way to proceed would be to work with a company called Resilient Building Group whose Relationship Managers act as an extension to the utilities and NHSaves rebate program. Their services include preparation of Request for Proposal (RFP) and obtaining estimates from contractors and they are paid directly by NHSaves.
4. Funding/Grants
NH Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) Municipal Energy Reduction Fund and Clean Energy Fund offers low interest loans only. They state that the savings of the project will pay off the loan. Each project must result in at least 15% energy savings to qualify for the loans. We are still looking to identify other sources of funding.
5. Lighting Audits of the BACC and Highway Building have been received and approved by NHSaves. The work is to be scheduled and will be paid for out of existing funds.
6. Building Public Presence of BEC:
a. Communications in Bradford Bridge: July will have energy savings tips for summer by Laura.
b. Updates on what environmental commitments have been made by surrounding communities. The Kearsarge Climate Action Committee is active and a source of good information for Bradford. Some surrounding towns have already installed solar installations. Warner voted to obtain bonds for construction of their arrays which allowed them to receive the NHSaves rebates and the electricity from the start. New London worked with a solar developer to build their solar installations and will purchase the systems after five years at a discounted rate.
c. Outreach to key community stakeholders to get their input.
Mel Pfeifle, Selectwoman, has started attending BEC meetings.
d. Create more info/content to post on Bradfordnh.org website. No update.
e. Vital Communities Climate Change Leadership Academy. Sandra continues in this program and is developing a weatherization project for Bradford to be launched in the Fall.
7. Other Items: Solar, both community and residential projects.
Our committee will research future solar for the town. Private companies have been looking at building solar installations in Bradford. Kearsarge Climate Action is looking to site a community power plant in the Kearsarge area. Kathleen will talk to interested parties that have made themselves know to town officials, and we will investigate options for communities to build and finance a solar array.
a. Kathleen to reschedule the informational meeting with Revision that was cancelled last winter.
b. The BEC discussed other ways that the Town might benefit from the NHSaves Municipal program. The program provides free energy assessments, which Bradford has already obtained, but also technical assistance including project evaluation, identification of energy saving measures, energy audits, building commissioning and recommissioning studies and equipment monitoring. The program provides incentives on a wide array of equipment types, applies to both new construction and retrofits, and provides some financing options. Mel reported that a nearby town obtained over $100,000 in rebates from the program and suggested that Bradford should consider this program for Town Hall. Mel stated that the current estimate for getting into the downstairs is $1,300,000. We need to do some long term planning and consider energy conservation measures such as heat pumps and solar?
8. Conclude meeting:
The next meeting will be Tuesday, July 20, 5-6pm at the BACC