HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 09/20/2021 (2)Approved SBEC Minutes
09/20/2021
Present: Keith Epstein, MJ Reale, Marcy Murray, Steve Crowley, Ethan Goldman, Andrew Chalnick,
City Staff: Ilona Blanchard, Lou Bresee. Public: Donna Leban.
6:30 PM Convene meeting, select scribe (Steve), review agenda
6:35 PM Comments and questions from the public not related to the agenda (none online at
the start)
6:40 PM Approve draft minutes from Sept 2
● Postpone pending more review
8:10 PM Commercial electric lawncare equipment demo planning (Keith)
● Steven Wisebaum and Clean Cities are conducting a commercial scale lawn mower demo
on 10/7, 11:30-1:30 at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Keith suggests we spend $100 for food.
Keith moves that we allocate $100, Marcy seconded, 6-0 in favor, unanimous.
● EV demo This Saturday, discussion about logistics.
6:45 PM Review revolving fund financials and possible project from Lou, possibly update
FY23 Capital Plan
● Lou is looking for payback calculations on energy investments
● Marcy expressed concern with limiting potential-project assessments to just payback.
Andrew asked if this capital budget should include the cost of carbon, social cost of carbon,
that might be considered over the lifespan of the investment. (please correct if I mis-heard
some of this!!-Steve)
● Lou notes: there are projects outside the energy section of the capital plan that might also
have major energy impacts
● Donna L suggests that any plans to replace boilers should hold off because with the Climate
Action Plan in motion, we are likely looking at moving completely off of fossil fuels. In reply,
heat pumps are in fact the primary, and these replacements are supplemental/back-ups.
● Consistent with our work plan, we are looking to help the city find non-fossil fuel options &
opportunity
● Donna points out that the Climate Council is looking seriously at recommending a Clean
Heat Standard as a key element of its thermal energy strategy. Incentivizing heat pumps,
RNG, advanced wood heat. We should keep an eye on this as it makes its way into actual
implementation.
● Should there be a place for EV chargers, or storage?
● Airport Parkway STP solar: Lou questions whether this will be the most cost-effective, esp.
in light of the hydro generator that’s proposed, at possibly better efficiency. Lou hopes to
see a more cohesive discussion about which project makes sense. It may make sense to
include this in the capital plan for now, and then work out the questions.
● Ethan suggests we keep a running list for next year so we can take a more proactive rather
than reactive approach to this
7:00 PM Review/edit draft FY23 Workplan for the City Council (due Sept/Oct); see the
Policy Priorities and Strategies Process Planning
● Ethan shared the draft workplan. This spreadsheet is based on the 2019 plan and is similar
format to what other city committees are using. There may be a better format to start from.
The SB Comprehensive Plan has a set of 4 primary goals that we should base our plan on.
● We should list things that are actionable, within a fiscal year, which we are likely to take on
as a committee. “Action items” should be our work.
● Andrew shared: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16BWp-kve2EWUfAkgqRR-
TfS7u3Z29OGq/edit#gid=1227616296
● And the Comp Plan:
https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/document_center/planning/SB_Comprehen
sive_Plan_Complete_Adopted_2-1-2016.pdf
● Running through the draft workplan spreadsheet, Ethan made notes and adjustments based
on committee input
● Ethan will work with format issues and share for next round of suggestions.
memo<https://sbvt-records.info/WebLink/PdfViewer.aspx?file=https%3A%2F%2Fsbvt-
records.info%2FWebLink%2FElectronicFile.aspx%3Fdocid%3D251726%26dbid%3D0%26repo%3DSB
url%26pdfView%3Dtrue#page=69> from Jessie Baker
7:30 PM Review draft FY21 annual report
● MJ shared a draft annual report, which was discussed, and edits were made.
● Ethan will send a revised report to the committee and take final comments and pass at the
next committee meeting
7:40 PM Ideas for funds from Energy Prize Solar Consortium, etc.
7:50 PM Update on state-wide climate council and discussions of hydro-power CO2
accounting
7:55 PM Internships - update on Tina’s project
8:05 PM Discuss recommended process to calculate cost-savings and emissions benefits
from Honda Clarity lease (Tim P.)
8:15 PM Dude Solutions energy management module demo planning
8:20 PM Updates on ongoing Actions/Projects
● Discussed the opportunity & challenges of building a bike canopy at the high school. We
need more information about whether or when that could become a solar charging station as
well.
- Steve reminded people about the VT Climate Council sessions coming up, at
https://climatechange.vermont.gov/getinvolved/calendar/month
8:30 PM Adjourn meeting