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Home My WebLink About2015-12-09 Climate Advisory Committee MinutesTown of Reading a. Meeting Minutes \2 �� RLul'AD TOWN CLERK ` Board - Committee - Commission - Council: READING. Climate Advisor Committee A � 21 1 Advisory ,y JAN 26 Date: 2015 -12 -09 Time: 7:00 PM M Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Bi- monthly meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Joan Boegel, member; Ron D'Addario, member and chair; Gina Snyder, associate member; Ray Porter, member; David Zeek, member; Laurie Ann Sylvia, member. Members - Not Present: David Williams, associate member Others Present: JIII Appel, Jason Riley and Eric Collins from Direct Energy Solar, Jeff Everson Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Joan Boegel Topics of Discussion: • Solarize Reading proposal. Representatives from Direct Energy Solar presented a summary of their firms' experience and offered to bring a Solarize program to Reading. They talked about the history of community solar programs in Massachusetts and described how a Solarize program could work in a community served by a municipal light department. The Climate Advisory Committee's involvement would be required to promote the program to Reading residents. After their presentation and subsequent discussion, the Committee agreed to consider their proposal and make a decision. They left the meeting at 7:52 p.m. • Review and Approval of recent meeting minutes. The minutes of October 28th meeting were reviewed and approved as written. • Review of Climate Committee presentation at November 171° Board of Selectmen's meeting. David Zeek reported that it seemed Selectmen were willing to consider a motion supporting the gas leaks legislation. Town Manager Bob LeLacheur asked for examples of resolutions passed by other towns /clties. David sent these but Bob hasn't responded to David's emails. Gina noted that Selectman John Halsey was the one who expressed most interest and concern about the number of gas leaks in Reading. Next step - David will email John Halsey with copy to Barry Berman (Selectman liaison to Climate Advisory Committee) and Dan Ensminger (Chair, Board of Selectmen). • Senior Citizen's energy efficiency. Gina and Ron attended December 70 lunch and learn for Senior Citizens to discuss home energy audits and energy efficiency. It was not well attended, but Jane Burns recognized that there was some interest and enough enthusiasm to warrant going forward. Ron emailed contact at Reading Cooperative Bank and thinks that we should reach out to other banks, too. Gina stated that banks have grant programs with on -line applications. • Community Shared Solar. Gina noted that Tom 011ila has been out on jury duty, so there have been no meetings in the past month. Laurie Ann stated that she did not Page I 1 rona.m Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes think the RfP (which was originally scheduled to go out before Thanksgiving) has gone out yet. • Book Discussions. Ron lead discussion of Pope Francis' encyclical at St. Agnes Parish • (4 people in attendance) and at the Reading Public Library (10 people). • School presentations. Ron met with three 5"' grade classes at Birch Meadow, along with a parent. • Gas Leaks. David Zeek reported that 15 communities have now passed resolutions in support of the legislation. The TUE Committee had a hearing on November 17. The legislature is not in session now until January. • Business Paper Recycling • Ron reported that he responded to a complaint of two tires in the bin. He removed them and brought to DPW garage for recycling. • The Town move the bin within the parking lot for snow removal after Christmas. Ron will notify the businesses when this happens. • Bin is being used, with 2 pick -ups weekly. • Administrative • Jeff has interview scheduled with Selectmen next week. There is a new limit on number of Associate Members. Only two are permitted. Jeff questions what his status will be if he is approved by Selectmen but there is no opening for an Associate Member. • There will be no meeting during Christmas week; next scheduled meeting will be January 13, 2016. • New Business • Jeff reported that Massachusetts has grant money for micro - grids. About one • year ago, the state awarded $184 million to fund resiliency including microgrids and solar projects. Jeff would like to research the current status and determine whether there is funding available that Reading could qualify for. • David recommended a book titled How Culture Shapes the Climate Debate by Andrew J. Hoffman. • Discussion of Solarize proposal by Direct Energy Solar. • Committee members expressed interest in the concept and the ability to offer Reading residents a discount on solar photovoltaics. • Concerns are giving one company preference and ethics / liability of a Town Committee promoting the services of this company. • Laurie Ann reminded the Committee that she had checked intor this company - then called Astrum Solar (now Direct Energy Solar) - a couple of years ago when they were doing a Solarize program In Concord. She received neutral reviews from her contact at Concord Municipal Light Department, who Indicated they were no better or worse than other installers. • Laurie Ann had a list of solar installations in RMLD territory. 15 new installations were done in 2015 bringing the total to 3,221 kW installed of which 251 kW is residential. RMLD does not have a list of approved solar installers. • Next steps • Gina and Joan will look into Solarize for RFP language and report back to committee on January 13. • David Zeek noted that we will know by the end of December whether Congress will approve the Solar tax credit (30 %) beyond 2016. If they do, then the time crunch to have solar projects committed by July 2016 ® will disappear. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Page 1 2 C IE I Q. Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes Page 13