Meeting at BACC 5:00-6:30 pm
Review and approval of November Minutes
- Vital Communities Climate Change Leadership Academy Updates.
- Community Power
- Municipal Solar
- Town Hall Renovation Project – Update
- Municipal Weatherization Status
- Highway Garage Update – rescheduled to May 2023.
- Library, Fire Station and BACC. The 2023 draft CIP currently has weatherization projects scheduled for 2024-2026. The BEC has presented the recommendation to proceed with the weatherization of the Fire Station in 2023 to the Select Board and Budget Committee. Updated estimates from two contractors have been received.
- Solar Energy
- Update on rooftop solar.
- Highway – roof not suitable to support solar panels
- BACC – long term use needs to be determined
- Fire Station – estimate requested
- Library – abutter’s large pines may need to be removed.
- Town Hall – roof is able to support solar arrays. The Stewardship Agreement the Town has with the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) requires that solar panels be “inconspicuous on the site and from the public right-of-way and do not damage or obscure character-defining historic feature”. The Selectboard does not want to pursue rooftop solar.
- Transfer Station Property. See 1b above.
- Update on rooftop solar.
- Heat Pumps – No updates
- Kearsarge Climate Action Items – The KCA has defined its mission as:
1. Educate local citizens about the climate crisis
2. Provide area-wide opportunities for community action
3. Collaborate with local groups.
Members of KCA will be tabling on December 18, at SAU 65 at 114 Cougar Ct., in New London at the Kearsarge Band Concert. All are welcome.
KCA and Hannaford’s are in discussions with the non-profit Center for Ecotechnology (CET) who provide towns and businesses with advice on how to combat climate change for assistance in setting up a Food Waste Handling system in the Kearsarge Region. The initial focus will be working with large producers of food waste such as restaurants, schools and grocery stores. Interested parties should contact Joy Kubit at joykubit@gmail.com.
- BEC Public Outreach
- Article in the December Bradford Bridge “Keep Bradford Safe this Winter?” from the BEC and Bradford Fire Department
- Proposed articles for January Bridge “Need Help for High Energy Costs – Part 2?” and on on LEDs
- Outreach to NH politicians? Sandra attended the Citizens Climate Lobby meeting with a representative of Annie Kuster’s staff to show support for 3 pieces of legislation:
- S.2130 – RISEE Act of 2022 (Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems Act of 2021) – the bill increases the percentage of revenue generated from offshore energy projects that is shared with coastal states and will be extended to the percentage of revenue generated from offshore wind leases for coastal states.
- H.R. 2820 – Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021 – the bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to establish voluntary Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Certification program to help reduce entry barriers into voluntary environmental credit markets for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners.
- Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 – This bill imposes a fee on the carbon content of fuels, including crude oil, natural gas, coal, or any other product derived from those fuels that will be used so as to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
- Energy Opportunities for Bradford Re: Inflation Reduction Act formerly known as Build Back Better.
The BEC will continue to report on energy saving opportunities.
- Review of Draft BEC Submission to 2022 Annual Report
- Discussion of energy related News Link items from NH Municipal Association
- Other Items
- Conclude