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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-08 Climate Advisory Committee Minutes Town of Reading Meeting Minutes AECE1VPU TOWN Cf ERK °•-, REkD (NafA Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2219 JUL - Climate Advisory Committee 1 AH 110 40 Date: 2017-02-08 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Lower Level Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Bi-monthly meeting Attendees: Members - Present: David Zeek, chair; Ray Porter, secretary; Laurie Ann Sylvia, member; Ron D'Addario, member; Jeff Everson, associate member; Gretchen Latowsky, member;Gina Snyder, associate member; Members - Not Present: None Others Present: Tom 011ila, RMLD Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Ray Porter Topics of Discussion: Welcome to Members and Guests Review minutes, vote on acceptance None Ongoing Business: • RMLD Solar Choice Program (next step) • Bob L. is open to doing a solar program. He would like to put a town committee together to define the preferred approach. • Tom 011ila discussed the two primary options: CSC with the town earning the lease payment or Reading initiated program with RMLD serving as power purchase and technical interface. • First system is operational, but not online. Future installations will be separate projects and economic benefits may reflect the changes in the SRECs. • A couple of other sites are being investigated and may be started by the end of the year. About 100 people on the waiting list for the next project. • Bob L. has a number of topics that he would like to have community input. • It is possible to start out as a Reading developed site and the shift to CSC if Reading does not wish to move forward in the site. • Potential site include: High school, Burbank Area and Train station with a mix of parking lot canopies and roof top panels. • Primary benefit of a solar power project to RMLD is to offset peak power load. • Storage pilot projects are being initiated by RMLD. • Time of use power pricing is still an option for customers to lower their electric bill. • Peak power generator will operate at the North Reading substation. Page 1 1 Town of Reading-Meeting Minutes • RMLD EV Charging Stations • Pilot project to fund a solar canopy (6 to 10 parking stations) with battery storage to allow charging of EV fleet vehicles. Mystic Valley Elder services vehicles possible partner. • Local university (Northeastern, Merrimack College, UMass Lowell) graduate student to collect and analyze data from the project. UMass Lowell has a storage project, details to be investigated. • EV charging stations still desirable even if charged from the grid with conversion later on for battery storage. Some state grants are incentivizing the chargers. Issue is who pays for power supplied. • Status of Committee Website and Facebook page • Summary of locations for reference materials access. • WordPress is the host for the Website. Username: readingdimatecommittee Password: s****d • Google Docs is the host for document storage. • Reviewed how and where information would be resident. • Email read i nocl i matecomm itteCdgmail.com Password: s****d • A group account will be setup to allow for messaging to committee members • Secretary to check email inbox before each meeting. • Earth Day Planning- Location (Saturday, April 22) • Dave was able to get the Gym at the Parker Middle School from 8:00am to 3:00pm. Ten 6-foot tables available, may need more tables. Direct access to gym for loading/unloading. • Preliminary list of vendors developed from the Home Show in North Reading. List to be cross referenced with previous years. • Bob L. will cover any fees for the event. • Possibly combine the bike swap (Reading Cares) (Ray to check with Betsy). • Focus "Earth Day for a Sustainable Future", make Flyer. • Use of Plastic Bags • Draft an instructional motion to direct the Climate committee to look into issue of plastic bag use. • Food Waste Ban • Spoke with Organix Solutions about diverting food waste from commercial and residential food waste. • Extended invitation to Organix Solutions to attend Earth Day. • Action Items for RCAC (items carried forward) • Revisit the Energy Services Company (ESCo) - to understand the progress on the energy efficiency and reductions. Find who (Joe Huggins (781-942-5492)) in Reading is tracking this. - Ray • Food waste management action may be relevant to business in Reading. Jeff to follow up with Wellesley. Contact Health Inspector. - Jeff • Reading Library home energy focus for future home tours. - Gretchen & Ron • Reinvent our Green Award program (Green Business and Green Leader). - Laurie Ann & Ron. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm Next meeting 2-22-2017 at 7:00 pm at the Library. Page 1 2 o ao_o