HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 12/14/2022South Burlington Energy Committee
Approved Meeting Minutes
December 14, 2022
Committee members present: Ahmad Abdel-Fattah, Steve Crowley, Keith Epstein, Ethan
Goldman, Carrie McLaughlin, Rob Meader, Tim Perrin (chair) Ken Pulido, MJ Reale, Sam Swanson,
Committee members absent: Frans Van Boden
City staff present: Ilona Blanchard, Lou Bresee
City council member present: Tim Barritt
Community members present: Linda Bailey
Guest presenter: Jonathan Dowds, REV (Renewable Energy Vermont)
Convene: Tim called the hybrid meeting to order via Zoom around 6:30 p.m. and MJ agreed to
scribe.
Minutes. Sam moved to approve the draft minutes from November. Keith seconded the
motion. The motion was approved with all voting in favor.
Renewable Energy Vermont presentation Jonathan Dowds presented the group with
information about an updated Renewable Energy Standard. We asked him what SBEC and do
to support this upcoming reform bill. Jonathan pointed out that there will likely be competing
bills – they will keep us informed on how things proceed. He will follow up with us and let us
know how we can help.
Comprehensive Plan The city is working on the next Comprehensive Plan and asked all city
departments and committees to be involved in the process by answering these questions:
• What key topics within our area of focus should be prioritized in the 2024
Comprehensive Plan?
• What input do you need from members of the public related to those key topics?
• What further information does your committee need in order to provide feedback on
the Comprehensive Plan?
Our feedback is due to Kelsey Peterson, City Planner (kpeterson@sburl.com) and Ilona by
December 31. Keith provided the framework for a response and the group refined the answers
with discussion and new topics and related data requests. Discussion topics included relating to
embedding CAP into the plan (building energy (heating/cooling) and transportation, equity,
resilience, affordability, infrastructure changes, projections for fossil fuel usage, up front costs
vs long range costs/savings. Tim recorded the answers and will craft a response to send to
Kelsey and Ilona.
CIP budget requests Lou presented the group with the information about different categories,
projects and what is budgeted including Energy Project Revolving Fund allocations. We
discussed that the new police cruisers are hybrid but not plug in hybrid or electric. Lou gave an
interesting example from a recent meeting about Madison, WI. They provide their net
metering surplus to low-income families.
Potential case study for faith based and other non-profits – Ahmad proposed SBEC work with
the Islamic Society of Vermont regarding installation of solar panels to take advantage of the
new federal solar tax incentives the Inflation Reduction Act provided for Tax-Exempt Entities in
Vermont. Carrie will work with Ahmad to explore this. The group thinks this could maybe a
prototype to work with other South Burlington faith and other non-profit organizations for
energy audits and energy efficiency. Sam mentioned Vermont Interfaith Power and Light -
https://vtipl.org/ - which recently expanded their focus and might be a good group to connect with.
Act 172 – Municipal energy resilience initiatives Some SBEC members attended a webinar on
December 13. MJ reported to the group.
Act 172 will be executed by Buildings and General Services (BGS) - SBEC members can go the
website and sign up for updates. https://bgs.vermont.gov/municipal-energy-resilience-program
Tyler DeShong, a former SBEC intern and is now Program Coordinator,
Tyler.DeShong@vermont.gov
1) Grants of up to $4,000 will be available to facilitate community meetings and
communication about municipal energy resilience.
2) Grants of up to $500,000 will be available for approved projects for weatherization,
thermal efficiency, and to supplement or replace fossil fuel heating systems with more
efficient renewable or electric heating systems.
They are still working on what the application and selection process will be, as well as how
municipalities may use the $4,000 educational grants. They anticipate that municipalities will be
able to apply for building audits within the next 3 to 6 months and building project grants
within the next 12 to 16 months; the $4,000 grants will likely be on the earlier end of that
timeline.
A lot of weight for these grants will be put on the 2019 VT Energy Burden Report – for those
communities with the most need.
https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/news-blog/whitepapers/vermont-energy-burden
There are 5 levels – lowest, low, moderate, high and highest.
South Burlington ranks lowest. Schools are not eligible. Despite this, Vermont’s “covered”
municipalities are encouraged to apply to the program and any grants/services that they
believe could be used to meet a critical need. The only criteria to apply for any of the grants is
that the applicant be a covered municipality as defined in Act 172: a city, town, fire district, or
incorporated village, and all other governmental incorporated units except for school districts.
To be approved for an assessment specifically, there is another stipulation that the covered
municipality must have access to high-speed Internet or a plan in place by 2024 to have it, and
that the building must be compliant with the American Disabilities Act by the time the project is
completed.
Keith wondered if the Wheeler House might qualify for this.
Transportation Implementation Plan Ilona explained that the City is starting a Transportation
Implementation Plan as a follow-up to the Climate Action Plan. Jessie Baker, City Manager, is
convening an Advisory Group to assist in the development of this Plan and she has asked that
the Energy Committee have a representative sit on this group. The purpose of this Advisory
Group is to provide feedback on the development of this Implementation Plan. The group will
meet approximately 4 times over the winter/early spring. Steve offered to be SBEC
representative.
Adjourn: Meeting was adjourned approximately at 8:45 pm.
Next Regular Meeting: Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 6:30pm.
Approved 1/11/2023