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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-04-14 Climate Advisory Committee MinutesCF� Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Climate Advisory Committee Date: 2021-04-14 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Bi -monthly meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM 'RECEIVED TOWN CLERK RE40I`<0, MA. P- 2323 MAR -8 PM 3: 10 Location: Conference Room David Zeek, Chair; Ray Porter, Secretary; Celeste Kracke, Member; Denise McCarthy, Member; Jeff Everson; Member; Peter MacGown, Associate Member; Travis Estes, Associate Member; Members - Not Present: Others Present: Chuck Underhill, RMLD Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Ray Porter Topics of Discussion: Meeting was held via a Zoom Conference Call Welcome to Members and Guests Review minutes, vote on acceptance Meeting minutes for 03/24/2021 has been accepted as amended. EV Charging Stations • Locations in Reading and Wilmington publicly accessible • Coordination with local planning boards for sites with compatible land use • Also looking at parking lot locations in shopping centers • Fleet use options being pursued (golf course carts) • Issues: nearby power and civil work • Street parking related issues relate to pedestrian traffic, line of sight for vehicle traffic and location of power poles • $7500 equipment cost per charging unit, labor costs vary depending on site issues • Other Issues, who is charged for power • RMLD getting 20 chargers for location somewhere. RCAC and Reading Cares Bike Event • Ray reviewed the operating plans for the bike event and coordination with RMLD, Town of Reading, and abutters. • Help from RCAC members to clean donated bikes is desired. • Update on times at next meeting. Page 1 1 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes Palmer Plant has Its permit recalled by MDEP • Air permit was recalled by Mass DEP for failure to construct the facility • Palmer plant owners are expected to appeal the permit decision • Biomass will not be accepted by RMLD as a renewable energy source per policy • Biomass may be eligible renewable energy certificates under the new DOER REPS • RMLD now needs to cancel the contract with the Palmer Plant for power • Biomass can make up ISO power through the grid. Community Garden Grant • Need to define the purpose and goals for the community • Location and access to water are among the issues to be addressed • Grant amount estimated to be about $10,000, but the scope of the effort needs to be defined. • Reading Food Pantry is looking to have a garden to meet their needs • Denise to talk to the Garden Club about their interest in this proposal • Celeste interested in advancing the issue and defining the other stakeholders. Student Interns on the Climate Committee • David asked Karen about the role of a student intern • Travis has found interest in students and parents about participating in an internship program • An internship can be specific and based on achieving an outcome • Could also be part of an Eagle Scout project, but the main purpose is to have a connection with the High School Climate Club. • Solar demonstration project is also an expressed interest Develop Metrics for Sustainable Development • Jeff has interest in developing metric or indicators • Ray to provide support to Jeff by reading the paper on the topic • Look to other communities about developing sustainable metrics • Wellesley College has a sustainable program which might have some insight. Other updates • Ethics training is due. Next meeting 4/28/2021 at 7:00 pm Page 12