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Home My WebLink About2015-09-09 Climate Advisory Committee MinutesN OF O r c IM. �o 0,6391NC04Q��P� Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Climate Advisory Committee Date: 2015 -09 -09 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Bi- monthly meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM Location: Conference Room TOWN CLV- ZK READING, MASS. t XT 21 A ct 01 Joan Boegel, member; Ron D'Addario, member and chair; Gina Snyder, associate member; Ray Porter, member; David Williams, associate member; David Zeek, member Members - Not Present: Laurie Ann Sylvia, member; Michele Benson, associate member Others Present: Daniel Ensminger, chair of Board of Selectman; Barry Berman, Selectman Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Joan Boegel Topics of Discussion: • Committee Chair Ron D'Addario welcomed invited guests from the Board of Selectmen and introduced the topic. Our committee had requested time on the agenda for a BoS meeting to discuss pending state legislation regarding natural gas leaks. Our intent was to ask that BoS pass a resolution supporting this legislation. The committee's request was denied. • Dan Ensminger, current Chair of BoS, explained that the BoS had an agenda item on their September 1 meeting regarding communication - including email and social media. They added discussion of taking positions on state legislation. The consensus (not a formal vote) reached at that meeting was that the BoS would not entertain a resolution because this has not been done before. This was not a decision on the merits of the gas leak issue. • Current policy with regard to legislation before the general court is that BoS may comment on issues that affect Reading only, but does not take a position on issues that may affect Reading as well as other communities. There is no precedent for doing so. • Mr. Ensminger further noted that the BoS is interested in the gas leak issue and wants to hear from Fire Chief about impact on Reading. Gina Snyder asked that he also talk to Tree Warden regarding the killing of street trees by gas leaks, referencing the planting of tree at the train station. • Barry Berman thanked the committee and David Zeek for bringing the gas leak issue to BoS attention. He stated that in his opinion (the minority) is that the Town should take a position on legislation that deals with Public Safety and affects Reading. He has experience working as an aide in state legislature and understands the legislative strategy of asking affected towns to weigh in on issues. He did his own due diligence to call our state senators and he sees Town relationship with state legislators as a partnership. Page 1 1 2013 -09 -03 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes • Barry Berman suggested that the gas leak issue should be brought before the BoS, if not as a proposal for resolution supporting the legislation, just as an informational presentation and the gas company should be invited. • David Zeek explained that the timing of this request is linked to scheduled September 29 Public Hearing on the "Omnibus Energy Bill" with the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (TUE) joint committee of the legislature. The law is not going to be voted on imminently, but conversation is beginning. • At the end of discussion, the Committee and Selectmen agreed that we want to work together and continue to have a relationship of mutual respect. Mr. Ensminger stated that the BoS would be happy to have the Committee come to their meeting on October 6 or 21. • Mr. Berman encouraged the committee to do more research on how the gas leak issue impacts Reading, beyond what we already learned from the Fire Chief. • Mr. Ensminger asked the committee about our current activities and suggested that we could use time on the agenda of a BoS meeting in October to provide a general update on our programs in addition to the gas leak issue. • Ron agreed to contact the Town Manager to set up a time for the committee to present at a BoS meeting in October. Mr. Ensminger stated that he would like to have the committee at a BoS meeting at least semi - annually. Review and Approval of recent meeting minutes. The minutes of August 26th meeting were reviewed and approved as amended. Community Shared Solar o Joan reported on August 31St CSS meeting with Tom 011ila at RMLD. She and Mike Scola attended that meeting. • Tom informed us that RMLD has arrived at a financial model that is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), revenue neutral to RMLD and less complicated than alternative models. • Once this financial model gets final approval from GM, the next step is to put together formal specification and request competitive bids from solar developers. • The CSS program will replace "Green Choice ", so current "Green Choice" customers will have first preference to participate in CSS. The number of participants will be limited based on the total capacity of the solar array. For example, if the array is 1 MW, there will be 200 participants, each getting 0.5% of the electricity output. Participants will pay the agreed -upon PPA rate for their solar kWhs, which will initially be a premium over standard fuel charge. In the second and subsequent years, they will receive credit for peak reduction and transmission. Break -even or payback will be 3 to 4 years. Customers would sign up for 10 year commitment. • The first solar array will be located in Wilmington. The hope is that there will be customer demand for more Community Shared Solar and solar arrays will be installed in each of the four towns. • The Reading Climate Advisory Committee will help with marketing and publicity when the CSS program is ready. Senior Citizen initiative. o Gina and Ron will meet with Jane Burns, Jean Delios and John Feudo regarding this program next week. Adopt an Island o Gina suggested we think about holiday decorations for "Polar Express" event. Book Discussion o Ron is scheduled to lead discussion of papal encyclical regarding Climate Change at the Library on December 8. Page 1 2 2013 -09 -03 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes o Ron is also trying to get the encyclical on St. Agnes Book Club list. Outreach to Schools o Gina will send email to RMHS teachers offering to speak to classes. 350.org event o Ron is interested in hosting a web -based program by 350.org in Reading. The date is Saturday, September 26. The program is political, in anticipation of the Paris Conference coming up in November. Possible venues were discussed. Ron will start with contacting pastor of St. Agnes about using the Parish Center. Other churches may be options if this doesn't work. Food Waste o David Williams obtained information about Food Waste from the MassDEP Regional Coordinator for Solid Waste and sent it to Ron and Ray. He can forward it to the entire committee for information only. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Page 1 3 zc:. -c9