Energy Committee Minutes 03.21.23

March 30, 2023 Karen Hambleton Energy Committee, Minutes 0

Present: Sandra Bravo, Jenny Howley, Laura Ryder, Susan Moss

Review and approval of February Minutes 

  • Vital Communities Climate Change Leadership Academy Updates.
    • Community Power:

Jenny presented info on Community Power comparing the three suppliers for towns to choose from in NH. The goal of contracting with a community power supplier is to achieve lower rates for both residents and the town, and to provide an opportunity to choose energy from renewable sources.  Many towns are already making this switch, and Warner will be voting on adopting community power for their town next week. Residents may opt out and stay with their current supplier even if a town votes to switch to Community Power. Jenny will write an article on Community Power for the Bridge.

  • Municipal Solar- Kathleen still working through possibilities for siting solar in town. Many pros and cons.
  • Municipal Weatherization Status 
    • Fire Station – The BEC submitted a Warrant Article Petition to the Town Clerk to weatherize the Fire Station.  The election was rescheduled to March 29, 2023, due to weather. The NH Saves representative inquired with Sandra about the status of the project and was informed of the delay. We got a very good rebate incentive: $11,871.50. This brings the Town’s costs to $13,129. (up-front cost is $25,000. Incentive is returned at the completion of the work and payment by the town)
    • Total project incentives for the three buildings (BLM, Highway, Fire Dept) reduces the total cost for weatherization by 42%.
    •  Highway Garage Update – rescheduled to May 2023.
    • Library – Weatherization of our Library in December 2021 resulted in a 25% annual reduction in heating oil use during the 2022 heating season.
  • 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 (Following the meeting a response was obtained from ReVision Energy indicating that the east – west orientation of the roof was not favorable for solar panels)
      • Library – abutter’s large pines may need to be removed.
  • Town Hall –
    • Solar not feasible for the building or property.  Michael Bruss confirmed that heat pumps will be used for part of the building, and the building will be prepared for future updating. Insulation for the building will go well beyond code.
  • Heat Pumps
    • No updates. The Library is also working on heat pumps.
  • Kearsarge Climate Action
    • Kearsarge Climate Action (KCA) and Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners (KNP) announce a window insert project under the guidance of the non-profit WindowDressers.org.  This volunteer initiative to build interior storm windows will be available to residents of the Sunapee Kearsarge area. Recipients of the inserts must volunteer to help build them. The build will be held at St. Andrews Church in New London, in the late fall.  Joy Kubit of KCA will be writing an article for the Bridge.
  • BEC Public Outreach
    • Status of Warrant Article Petition to weatherize the Fire Station.  Voting next week, March 29.
  • An article planned for the April Bridge will share a decision-making tool for individuals or businesses that own buildings to use Inflation Reduction Act funds to lower their carbon footprint. The beta version is ready and covers the entire state of NH and can be found at: https://go.elevationweb.org/ira-decision-making-tool. It was created by The Durham Energy Committee in collaboration with Elevation, a nonprofit digital services agency.
  • Laura is working on how to combine your energy reduction projects to get your maximum rebate each year by spreading out the work over several years. Need to make clear the difference between tax credits and rebates. Important to know that you don’t get a refund for more than your taxes owed although in some cases the balance can be carried over to the following year.

Rebates are available with electric vehicles, both new and used.

  • How can we best collect our energy articles that have been printed in the Bridge to make them available to the public? Could we create a link from the town website?
  •  It is important to offer residents clear info on how to access Home Energy audits.
  • Outreach to NH politicians. Comments were submitted to our NH House representatives urging them to vote yes on HB208. This Bill would establish greenhouse gas emission reduction goals for the state and establish a climate action plan which was last updated in 2009. The Bill passed on March 16, 2023, which will make NH eligible for significant federal funding opportunities for energy efficiency, electrification of heating and transportation, and clean energy deployments from the IRA over the next several years.
  • Energy Opportunities for Bradford Re: Inflation Reduction Act formerly known as Build Back Better

The BEC will continue to report on energy saving opportunities.

  • Conclude: Next meeting on April 18, 5-6pm at BACC.