HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 10/13/20211
South Burlington Energy Committee
Approved Meeting Minutes
October 13, 2021
Committee members present: Ethan Goldman (Chair), Kate Bailey, Andrew Chalnick, Steve Crowley, Keith Epstein, Marcy Murray, MJ Reale, Sam Swanson Committee members absent: Linda McGinnis, Tim Perrin
City staff present: Ilona Blanchard, Lou Breese Community members present: Michael Mittag
City Council’s charge: The charge of the South Burlington Energy Committee is to promote
energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable energy resources among the city's residents, businesses, and in municipal affairs. The committee assists the city in addressing the goals to promote energy efficiency, affordable energy, and lessen reliance (per capita) on
non-renewable energy resources.
Convene - Ethan called the meeting to order via GoToMeeting shortly after 6:30 p.m., and Sam agreed to scribe. Lou and Ilona attended at City Hall
Agenda
The Committee reviewed the proposed meeting agenda. After Ilona reported that the Annual Report was past due, the Committee decided to make completing the Report a principal meeting objective. The Committee decided also to place a priority on making progress on the FY23 Committee Work Plan and tabled the discussion of the Honda Clarity lease costs and benefits.
Minutes Keith initiated and Steve seconded a motion to accept the draft Meeting Minutes for the September 2 and 20 Committee meetings. The Committee approved the motion voting 7 in favor of the motion and 1 abstaining.
Update on Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) project to develop a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for South Burlington Ethan reported on the status of CAP work plan of the CCRPC. Council President Helen Riehle
will serve as the Council’s liaison to the CCRPC project and the Director of Planning and Zoning Paul Conner will serve as the City Staff liaison. The Committee seeks information on the CCRPC work schedule for the project. The Committee agreed to pursue arranging a meeting between a limited number of Committee members and the CCRPC work group to establish a working relationship and learn how the working group plans to proceed. Several Committee
members expressed a desire to follow the progress of the CAP work and contribute assistance where possible.
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Review, edit, and approve the draft FY22 Committee Annual Report
MJ introduced the revised draft of the Annual Report, summarizing the changes she made since the last Committee meeting. The Committee discussed and responded to recent comments provided by Ilona and Andrew, making several changes in the draft text. MJ moved and Sam
seconded a motion to adopt the draft Annual Report as amended during the meeting. The
Committee voted unanimously to approve motion. The Report will immediately be submitted to the City Staff. Review and modify the FY23 Energy Committee Work Plan
Although Ilona advised that the need to submit the Work Plan to the City Council is not immediate, the Committee decided to proceed quickly because the plan will guide current Committee activity. The Committee observed that the plan has two important audiences, first, the Committee itself, and, second, the City Council. The Committee will use the development of
the Work Plan to guide its work over the next year. The City Council looks to the Work Plan to
assess how the Committee’s work may relate to their needs. The Committee proceeded to discuss details in the draft Work Plan Ethan circulated earlier in the day.
The Committee decided to adopt Keith’s recommendation that the plan identify a limited number of specific goals that the Committee would seek to accomplish this year, arguing that this would focus our limited resources and result in significant progress toward the Committee’s overall goals.
The Committee considered how to address the list of specific action strategies addressing energy goal set forth in the Comprehensive Plan, noting that the FY23 Work Plan will address some but not all. The Committee decided to add to the list of those strategies a brief summary of the status of each of the strategies and some comment on the Committee’s assessment of the need for
immediate action.
The Committee decided to adopt Keith’s suggestion that each Committee member review the draft Work Plan to identify three action step options they would likely be willing to commit to working on during this year. At the next meeting, the Committee will review what members
indicate they would like to work on and sort out a strategy of specific commitments, which may
be integrated in the Committee’s FY23 Work Plan. Ethan will prepare and distribute a template that members should use to prepare their responses. This is an action step each member is asked to address by the next Committee meeting.
Responding to a question from Steve, the Committee reviewed progress it had made on
developing and implementing metrics to track the progress the City is making toward its energy goals. Ethan noted the progress the Middlebury College interns made last year and the Committee considered how to use that information effectively.
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Ethan extended an offer to the Committee to provide the POWER-D.city software he is
developing to help the City automate the process of updating the energy data for South
Burlington. The Committee invited Ethan to explain further the POWER-D.city software tool and to elaborate on what he is offering. The Committee will address this in detail at a future Committee meeting.
Ethan will revise the draft Committee’s draft Work Plan, responding to guidance offered by the
Committee. The Committee will consider the revised Work Plan at the next regular meeting. Ideas for funds from Energy Prize Solar Consortium, etc. - bike shelter Andrew has proposed that the Committee commit funds for the development of a bike shelter
project to be located at one of the South Burlington public school properties. The Committee
discussed several different ways to develop such a project and link it to student education. Ethan suggested that such a project include e-bike charging. The Committee will revisit this proposal at a future meeting, after practical and effective project design options are clarified. Ethan committed to contacting someone at SunCommon to obtain more information that may help the
Committee clarify the cost of project design options.
Next Meeting Wednesday, November 10 at 6:30 PM. The Committee did not decide whether to meet then in person or to continue meeting remotely via GoToMeeting.
The Committee tabled remaining agenda items to a future meeting.
• Internships - update on Tina’s project
• Discuss recommended process to calculate cost-savings and emissions benefits from
Honda Clarity lease
• Report on the Commercial electric lawn-care equipment demonstration
• Dude Solutions energy management module demo planning
• Updates on ongoing Actions/Projects Adjourn - The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:55 PM