2015-09-23 Climate Advisory Committee Minutes

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Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes • b) Could be at town fair or community event, could even be for an event (Town day, Reading Fair, or tree lighting, earth day); • c) business group - downtown or chamber. • Can ask MassRIDES to come and talk to a business who might benefit their employees • Can match Readingites with other commuters going to Cambridge or Watertown, etc. Anyone can go in and sign up, checking off whether open or closed, • Question on 128 - the 128 Business Council has a transportation management association. Jeffrey Everson, Reading resident, physicist and consultant, also does some work with solar wondered if RMLD is not doing as much as some other municipal light departments. Renewables, wind, solar, applied robotics, etc. - as of 2013 only 15 residents of population of 26,000 customers and two commercial have solar photovoltaic. He spoke with Ms. Shakespeare at RMLD who indicated it's now about 25. With Federal incentives about $5,000, state, about $1,000 and RMLD rebate up to $2,000; 5,000 watt home solar panels, installed is about $4 /watt, or $20,000, even with rebates provide a lot of incentive. And the REC's are per MWh, $285 for SREC payment which varies. RMLD reserves the right to purchase the RECs for $30. Other muni's vary in how they deal with the SRECs. According to the ISO list of installed capacity, Reading is the lowest at 1.10 MW installed. Suggestion: to do something about PPAs so that they are more available than they are now. Also maybe talk to Wellesley about how they installed a 60 kw system 5 years ago. • Committee members explained PPA and that RMLD does offer rebate for solar installations, but unclear whether it would be cost - effective to do PPA's with multiple individual residents. The cost they paid last contract about 7.5 cents /kwh. • Discussed balance on how residential PV might work... e.g., can a homeowner get credit on net - metering beyond their own use via RMLD? Provider would need agreement with RMLD. • The COMMUNITY SHARED SOLAR (CSS) would be like a PPA, where RMLD buys the power at a level above the fuel charge (because of other cost savings in transmission and capacity charges), probably 7.5 cts /kwh. CSS would go out to bid and a PPA would be signed with the developer. CSS update, with Tom 011ila last meeting a Monday back, he indicated would need to write up a bid specification and put it out to bid over the next month. Don't think there will be meeting until the bid package is done and out. Mike and Gina attended. Minutes, some changes suggested. Joan will re -write and committee voted to accept as amended, unanimous. Ron signed up to go to MAPC gas meeting in Quincy (at Town Library) October 7 th The meeting is primarily aimed at first responders. Dave Z. sent the notice to Bob LeLacheur, Mr. Ensminger, and Mr. Berman; Joan suggests send to Fire Chief and DPW (George S, who works with highway department) especially since already contacted them in past. Dave Z. spoke with highway department on gas leaks, they noted that they smell gas leaks all the time, but also have an issue coordinating NGrid's plans for new lines with Reading's plans for streets. Senior Citizen program for energy efficiency audits: Jane Burns has been re- scheduling the meeting, as a result it has not happened. Ron will call her. Were doing on a Tuesday night so people can make it. Program suggested to CAC member by a Reading citizen; seems like a win -win and we help our elders. Adopt Island (AI). Need to get Ray on mailing list, but Dave W. is off the list. AI is concerned the island is too much to keep up. Now with two poles and anchors added as well. Ray has spoken with people who agree it's hard, but others want to know why it's not done. Understanding what's there, having seen it grow and see what's green; 6- inches of cedar mulch with roots throughout doesn't think truckloads of bark from the compost would help. Ray is working on it. Page i 2