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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 03/08/20231 South Burlington Energy Committee Meeting Minutes March 8, 2023 Committee members present: Steve Crowley, Keith Epstein, Ethan Goldman, Rob Meader, Reale (Vice Chair), Sam Swanson Committee members absent: Ahmad Abdel-Fattah, Frans Van Boden, Carrie McLaughlin, Tim Perrin, Ken Pulido, City staff present: Ilona Blanchard, Lou Bresee, Erica Quallen City council member present: Tim Barritt Community members present: Al Sularz, VT Energy Analytics and Testing LLC Convene: MJ called the meeting to order at 6:40 PM. Sam volunteered to serve as scribe. Public comments not related to the meeting agenda Al Sularz introduced his business, Vermont Energy Analytics and Testing, which offers energy performance ratings of buildings. The Committee discussed with Al Sularz his experience with the HERS energy performance rating system and the lessons imparted with experience rating buildings in Vermont, Massachusetts, and elsewhere. https://www.vtenergyanalytics.com/ Minutes. The Committee reviewed and adopted the draft meeting minutes from the two previous regular meetings, the January 11 and February 8 meetings. In separate motions, Keith moved and Steve seconded Keith’s motions to adopt the minutes for the January 11 and the February 8 Committee meetings. In each case the members present voted unanimously to adopt the minutes as presented. SBEC Support for Carbon Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Erica Quallen, the South Burlington (SB) Public Works Deputy Director of Capital Projects ( equallen@southburlingtonvt.gov), reported on the work she is leading to draft a CAP implementation plan to address the transportation CAP transportation goals. Erica reports that she intends to complete the draft Transportation Sector Implementation Plan by July 2023. She asked the Committee for help inviting the public to respond to the SB Community Survey, which is available on the Internet at https://www.southburlingtonvt.gov/news_detail_T7_R905.php Erica invited members of the EC to respond to the survey and invite their SB friends and neighbors to respond as well. MJ asked Erica how the Committee may be productively assist with the implementation of the CAP Transportation Implementation Plan. Erica suggested that the Committee to select from the list of “Transportation High Impact Actions,” presented at page 13, in the Climate Action by Sector section of the CAP. Erica and MJ led a discussion of ways the EC may be able to productively contribute to City efforts to educate and to enlist the support of people in SB to achieve selected high impact transportation actions. An extended discussion considered 2 possible ways the Committee could make a productive contribution to the development of the CAP Transportation Implementation Plan and then the execution of that plan. SBEC will post the info on Front Porch Forum, Facebook and in an upcoming Other Paper article written by Steven. Community Engagement Events The group discussed community engagement options. Should our committee plan one large event like Burlington and Waterbury or does it make more sense to hold smaller events on SoBU Nights Out. Ilona told the group that SoBU Night Out is managed by Park and Rec Dept and generally they try to focus on entertainment so it may not be a good fit for energy education and engagement. The Other Paper and City Website/SBEC content – MJ updated the group on these outreach projects and mentioned getting help from some committee members to review this content. Ethan offered to review an upcoming article on Heat Pumps. City Activity Report by Lou Bresee Lou reported on two issues he is wrestling with, managing of the several electric vehicle (EV) chargers sited by the City near City Hall, and deciding whether to purchase the all or part of the solar electric generation sited on the SB land-fill site, which the city now obtains electricity supplies from via a long term lease contract. Lou specifically asked the Committee to review his draft analysis of the costs and benefits of purchasing the solar facilities or continuing to obtain electricity via power purchase agreement with the facility owner. MJ committed the Committee to reviewing Lou’s analysis. Lou will reach out to Carrie, Ken and Frans when he is ready to feedback. Potential partnership with Williston Energy Committee for Window Dressers The Committee reviewed Tim’s report on his discussion with the Williston Energy Committee about their invitation to the SBEC to assist them with their planned Window Dresser campaign. The Committee discussed different ways the EC could participate in the Williston program or organize one in SB. The Committee decided to explore interest in the SB community in Window Dressers. Ethan offered to take the lead on organizing a presentation to explain Window Dressers to members of the SB community who may be interested in carrying out such a program in SB or in collaboration with another community. Keith offered to assist with this when he becomes available in late August. Emerging legislative issues – Steve gave an update on The Affordable Heat Act. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned approximately at 8:45pm. Next Regular Meeting: Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 6:30pm.