HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 02/07/2013South Burlington Energy Committee (SBEC) draft meeting minutes
Meeting Date: 2/7/13
Members Present Absent
Marc Companion X
Don Cummings(scribe) X Keith Epstein X Marcy Murray X Sam Swanson X Peter Tousley X
Laura Waters
Meeting Location: South Burlington City Hall, second floor conference room
City Staff: Ilona Blanchard
Members of the Public: Maddy Ostrander
Start Time: 7 p.m.
Motion: To accept the minutes for December .
Moved by: Sam Swanson
Seconded by: Don Cummings
Approved: unanimously
Motion: To accept the minutes for January.
Moved by: Laura Waters
Seconded by: San Swanson
Approved: unanimously
Input from members of the public:
Maddy is attending as part of a UVM Class
City Staff Update
LED streetlight replacement – Awaiting signing of Eff Vt Contract, Inventory complete, Lamps not on S.
Burlington property / right of way will be removed from GMP’s billing system.
Renewable Energy
Dorset Park – Redesigning plan for connection to the grid
Police Station – Estimated 50k array in planning process
Landfill – Financials for 500k array still being analyzed
Open Meeting Law: The discussions continued about how to meet the letter of the law. Draft of minutes will be
forwarded to Ilona and distributed to members. Members can make suggested updates which she will collect. Final
review and approval will occur at the next meeting.
Project Updates:
Condo Project – Shelter Analytics extension to project is complete with a total of 24 condos weatherized. Several
audits of additional buildings are being scheduled. Several new associations have been approached about
participating. Marc will work with the committee about how best to continue the project using committee members
as volunteers.
Residential Weatherization – The first neighborhood project will be launched in the Laurel Hill neighborhood. We
are working with the same graphic designer as the CFL project to design a handout to be distributed in the
neighborhood. We will be using house parties and volunteers to canvas the neighborhood. Expect to start later the
February. Keith proposed a proclamation and the finalized wording follows.
Motion: That we ask the City Council to make a proclamation regarding participation in the Home Energy
Challenge:
HOME ENERGY CHALLENGE PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Efficiency Vermont, in partnership with Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN), is
spearheading a year-long effort to increase the number of comprehensive home energy efficiency improvements;
and
WHEREAS, the year-long effort is called Vermont Home Energy Challenge; and
WHEREAS, under the Challenge, the City will compete with other communities in our region to see which can get
the most homes weatherized during 2013; and
WHEREAS, the Challenge is designed to mobilize many more Vermonters to take action and help Vermont reach
its statewide goal of 25% energy savings in 80,000 homes by the year 2020; and
WHEREAS, Efficiency Vermont and VECAN are conducting training and providing guidance and marketing
materials to support this campaign; and
WHEREAS, Goal 6 of South Burlington's draft Comprehensive Plan is to reduce energy consumption and increase
renewable energy production; and
WHEREAS, participation in the Home Energy Challenge will help South Burlington residents reduce home energy
consumption by educating residents about and facilitating home energy audits and weatherization; and
WHEREAS, Goal 1 of South Burlington's draft 2012 Comprehensive Plan is to ensure that South Burlington is an
affordable place to live; and
WHEREAS, reducing home energy consumption makes housing more affordable; and
WHEREAS, Objective 20 of South Burlington's draft 2012 Comprehensive Plan is to achieve a reduction of 20% in
carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions from 2009 levels by 2020; and
WHEREAS, reducing home energy consumption reduces carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions; and
WHEREAS, South Burlington has an active Energy Committee that has been engaged in working with
condominium owners to weatherize homes.<
NOW, THEREFORE, THE SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM that the City
of South Burlington is participating in the 2013 Vermont Home Energy Challenge under the leadership of the
Energy Committee and encourages homeowners to take part in home weatherization opportunities to reduce energy
use.
Moved by: Don Cummings
Seconded by: Laura Waters
Approved: unanimously
Other Business:
VECAN Request for Energy Committees to Testify at Joint Hearing:
Motion: That the energy committee ask a representative to testify at the special joint hearing of both the House and
Senate Natural Resources on Wednesday February 13, 2013. The representative should report that the S. Burlington
Energy Committee “strongly supports proposals to improve weatherization of homes in Vermont, but we are not
prepared to take a position on any bill at this time”.
Moved by: Don Cummings
Seconded by: Marcy Murray
Approved: unanimously
Policy Regarding Siting of Renewable Energy Projects in the City:
Motion: That the city should develop a policy on Siting of Renewable Energy Project where the Energy Committee
offers to lead such a process with the participation of other appropriate stakeholders.
Moved by: Don Cummings
Seconded by: Marcy Murray
Approved: unanimously
Strategic Planning for the Energy Committee: due to limited time remaining it was decide to schedule a planning
session for February19, 2013 at City Hall. Ilona will find us a room.
Meeting Adjorned at 9:28
Next meeting: Thursday, March 7, at 7 p.m. at City Hall 575 Dorset Street