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Minutes for the Enfield Clean Energy Committee Meeting on 3/27
Call To Order
-Meeting was called to order at 6:35PM with Jeff, Steve, Greg, and Ray present. Doug arrived at meeting 6:40.
Approval of Minutes
-Approval of minutes from the 1/31 meeting. Jeff mentioned two corrections. The first concerns the paragraph where Tom Kinsler asked if we receive points for geothermal systems. Steve mentioned no we do not, but in fact yes, we do. The second concerns the update on points. The minutes state the total is for the end of November, when in fact it is for the end of August.
-Steve made a motion, seconded by Ray to approve the minutes for the 1/31 meeting as amended. Motion passed unanimously.
Old Business
-Jeff mentioned the Town Attorney rejected the Home Energy Solutions energy audit rebate proposal, saying that this must be put out to bid to determine an energy audit vendor. The committee feels that the Town Attorney does not fully understand the rebate proposal and Steve plans to attend a future Council meeting to review the subject and present our case once the Town’s May budget period is over.
-Doug asked if CL&P could assign vendors for the audit instead of the CEC. He mentioned that 14 other towns using the Home Energy Solutions program do this. Jeff replied that the Town Attorney replied to him that even though 14 towns do this, it does not make it “legal.”
-Discussion followed where the group consensus for now was to forget about the $25 we would receive per audit and to simply continue to promote the program to residents to get energy audits for their personal benefit and savings.
-Energy table event update. Steve is planning an event at the Library in the near future, and is also planning on setting up a table at local grocery stores (Shop Rite/Big Y). He also wants to set up future table dates at the Enfield Mall, Tarnow nursery, and the Spring Splash coming up on Saturday 3/31. Jeff mentioned that any approval contracts that may be required from them be cleared through the Town Attorney.
-Energy points update. Jeff reported that we lost one resident point but gained points for one solar system. Enfield currently is at 217 points.
-Current clean energy projects the town is working on. Jeff reported no additional projects currently going on. Group discussed town progress on the LED light project for the Freshwater Pond walkway.
-Discussion followed on the town contract with Trans Canada; specifically on the “pass through” charges. The group was unsure if even though the town may save on energy usage, we would still be charged a set rate if we did not meet an estimated contractual usage amount.
-Committee 2012 project review. The group reviewed our planned goals determined from the last meeting. Ray suggested contacting local real estate agents to provide energy audit info and Clean Energy signup info for new town residents. We also discussed possibly getting the word out through the local Chamber of Commerce. Ray will contact Ken Nelson for ideas/suggestions to have this move forward.
-April newsletter. Group discussed having town schools at all levels write future articles for the newsletter. We plan to contact Henry Dutcher and the School Superintendent for approval/ideas to make this happen.
New Business
-Earth Day is April 20th. We plan to have a program to collect old CFL light bulbs for recycling (possibly with Home Depot) to coincide with Earth Day events. The town will have Earth Day events on the Town Green that Friday from 4-6PM. The focus topic will be on recycling.
-Jeff reminded the group of the upcoming Meriden seminar April 3rd on new clean energy projects/guidelines.
-Discussion followed on any progress for the proposed solar farm array at the Enfield Waste Treatment plant, and updates on the March Energy Task Force meeting. The town is still planning to focus on lighting upgrades for 3 town buildings before possibly expanding the program for additional buildings.
-Two firehouses solar system usage results are currently up on the town website, and Enfield Fire Stations 1 and 2 should be up by next week.
-Group discussion followed on our Energy vampire ETV proposal. We hope to have some ETV program taped and aired in the near future.
Adjournment
-At 7:45, Mark made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Steve. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned.
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