5:00 pm Bradford Town Hall
Review and approval of March Minutes.
- Community Power Update – offering the following opportunity to purchase discounted solar electricity from a solar facility being developed in Warner.
a. Shave ~1 cent/kWh From Your Electric Bill Through Group Net Metering There is no cost to subscribe, and accounts can remain with their current supplier. Once Poverty Plains is operational, each subscriber (also known as a “group member”) will receive a monthly discount on their electricity bill equal to 12.5% of the net metering credit, multiplied by the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) they have subscribed. The net metering credit is tied to Eversource’s default supply rate, which is currently 8.929 cents/kWh. If Poverty Plains were operational today, subscribers would earn 1.12 cents per kWh subscribed (i.e., 12.5% x 8.929 cents/kWh), and a medium-sized municipal complex subscribing to 100,000 kWh/year would save approximately $1,120 annually on electricity bills.
b. This is a limited-time opportunity. To keep the project on schedule, we need to fully subscribe it in the coming months. Early movers will be prioritized. - Municipal Weatherization Status. Still waiting on response. Margaret Dillion, of S.E.E.D.S, who was contracted by NHSaves to conduct the energy audits of Braford’s municipal buildings, has agreed to assist the BEC to quantify the energy savings from implementation of energy saving measures at the Highway and Fire Department buildings.
- Solar Energy – update on SolSmart. The non-profits Clean Energy NH and SolSmart are partnering to help municipalities establish smart solar zoning and permitting at the local level. This program is free to municipalities. Sandra is reaching out to the Selectboard, Planning Board, Zoning Board, Building Inspector and Fire Chief to present this opportunity to work with experts and peers to decide whether Bradford should create a solar ordinance and start working on a draft.
- Electrification
a. Geothermal opportunities. Sandra is requesting estimates from consultants on the cost of conducting a feasibility study to determine if geothermal is a good fit for heating/cooling at the Highway Building.
b. Air Source Heat Pump installation opportunities?
c. Other? - New Hampshire Network Update
a. Sandra and Susan plan to attend a special workshop: “Solar Start to Finish”, happening Wednesday, April 16 from 4:30–6:30 PM at the Hotel Concord presented by CRNH. - Legislative Updates
a. A good place to stay on top of NH legislative updates is through https://www.newhampshirenetwork.org/NH-bills
b. HB 399 was signed into law which creates easier financing for energy efficient construction.
c. A series of bad bills was tabled or killed including:
i. HB575 – banning off-shore infrastructure;
ii. HB182 – prohibiting EV cars parking in public lots; and
iii. HB610 – eliminating the independent Office of the Consumer Advocate. - BEC Public Outreach in March
a. An article entitled “Say No to Single Use Plastic Bags!” was published in the April edition of the Bradford Bridge along with an ad for the NHSaves ButtonUp workshop scheduled for April 24, 2025 in the Warner Town Hall from 7:00 – 8:30. - Other Items
a. NHSaves opportunities for Bradford businesses? Sandra has started paying visits to some of the businesses in Bradford to explain the energy audit process and opportunities for reducing energy usage and resulting costs.
b. Inflation Reduction Funds availability. NHSaves and EV rebates are functional. - Conclude