HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-27 Climate Advisory Committee MinutesTown of Reading fe£CEIVED
Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
READ''NG. MA.
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Board - Committee - Commission - council: 2023 MAR -8 PM 3: 11
Climate Advisory Committee
Date: 2022-07-27 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Bi -monthly meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
David Zeek, Chair; Ray Porter, Secretary; Genady Pilyaysky, Member; Walt
Talbot, Associate Member; Travis Estes, Member
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Greg Phipps (RMLD)
Andrew MacNichol (Town of Reading)
Karen Gately Herrick (Select Board)
Minutes Respectfully submitted By: Travis Estes
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting was held via a Zoom Conference Call
Welcome to Members and Guests
Review minutes, vote on acceptance
None.
RMLD Update
• General Manager hiring
o Reviewing applicants
o Anticipating interviews to start soon
o Trying to move towards a decision in Sept/Oct
• First EV chargers installed as part of recent grant receipt
• Increased demand is good
• Evaluating more locations to also support apartment/condo residents
• Recruiting a new Director of IT
• Last week was the season peak for demand
0 24,300 MW peak year to date
o Late day peak for the first time due to the presence of regional solar in
network
• Reviewed power supply context
o Extreme volatility in fuel source prices
o Will lead to increased natural gas generation costs
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Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes
• Renewable Choice Update
o Allows RMLD customers to contribute towards the retirement of RECs
• Trying to increase participation in the Time of Use (TOU) program
o Key load period is 4-8 PM
• Will be deploying an EV rate to encourage off-peak charging
• Rolling out a mobile app in 2022
• Load growth projections
o Constructing Wilmington Substation in late 2022
o Operational in 4Q26
• Reviewed heating census
o Heat pump adoption is in line with RMLD's expectation
• Evaluating induction cooktop ranges
o Challenge in qualifying based on Energy Star
• DAVID - Is there anything RCAC can/should be doing with RMLD regarding the
heating/cooling census?
o Not at this time
• RAY - What incentives will be available for GSHP, particularly for multi -family homes?
c RMLD has a custom program that will provide incentives for GSHP
• Will be deploying a weatherization program in the fall of 2022
Committee Organization
• Current: David Zeek, Chair; Ray Porter, Vice -Chair
• Nominations
o David Zeek, Chair by Genady/Travis
■ Vote approved unanimously
o Ray Porter, Vice -Chair by Travis/Genady
e Vote approved unanimously
Funding Request for Cooling/Heating Census
• David reads motion for approval
• Request $1200
• Current data has not been shared publicly
• Need to publicize results as a next step
• Vote approved unanimously
Sustainability Director
• Recommended that we update the 2009 climate action plan
• Karen Gately Herrick recommended that we look into participation in 10 -town pilot to
ban fossil fuel deployment in new construction
• Public visit from Seth Moulton on Tuesday at 1:00 PM at the Mallet Conservation
Land
o Andrew to share press release
New Residents Open House
• RCAC has been invited to host table on Oct. 18
• Ray recommended that we attend
Karen Gately Herrick
• Invited to present at a future Select Board meeting
• David introduced the polystyrene ban as a proposed bylaw
o Has not gone to the bylaw committee
o David will send a copy to Karen Gately Herrick
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Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes
• RMLD commissioner has requested confirmation that the new demand response
controls are being utilized as intended
o Need to engage the facilities manager to confirm
Calendar of Coming Events
Summer Social
• Looking at mid/late-August at this time
• Ray and Walter will coordinate
RMLD Webinar 8.17.2022
. Details from RMLD will be shared by Travis
Next meeting 8/10/2022 at 7:00 pm
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