Clean Energy Task Force Regular Meeting December 1, 2014
CLEAN ENERGY TASK FORCE MINUTES
December 1, 2014
REGULAR MEETING
The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by Commissioner Beinstein in the Room 103 of Simsbury Town Hall, with the following members present: Bob Beinstein, Jim Ray, Claudia Szerakowski and Susan Van Kleef.
1. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MEETING ON NOVEMBER 3rd, 2014:
The minutes from the November meeting were reviewed by all. Commissioner Szerakowski made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Commissioner Van Kleef seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion passed. Amendments as approved are:
Amendment to Para 4, Line 45: Add a comma after ‘installations’.
Amendment to Para 5, Line 53: Add the word ‘she’ between ‘and could’.
Amendment to Para 7, Line 77: Add the phrase ‘proposed to be’ between ‘being put’.
2. PUBLIC AUDIENCE:
Commissioner Beinstein opened the floor for public audience. Mr. Gregory Ray and Mr. David Levien were in attendance but neither had any business or questions for the CETF. Mr. Levien has been helping Commissioner Szerakowski with the Green Business Challenge program and plans to join CETF as a member next year. With no discussions brought forward, Commissioner Beinstein closed the public audience.
3. STATUS UPDATE of the CLEAN ENERGY COMMUNITY PROGRAM:
Commissioner Ray had attended a meeting at Town Hall where Ms. Diana McCarthy-Bercury of Northeast Utilities provided information for the Town of Simsbury as a new member of the Clean Energy Communities. Commissioner Ray had forwarded the handouts from the meeting to the CETF members prior to the meeting, but provided a general overview of the key points. In regard to the $10,000 Bright Ideas Grant, the State no longer gives the grant money up front, but requires a specific proposal with costs that covers how it is to be used. After some discussion, it was agreed that CETF wanted to address energy conservation in a like manner that was used for the Solarize Simsbury campaign, which will include subsidies and workshops for the residents. More details in planning for this will be done in future meetings. For the earned solar panels, Mr. Tom Roy, Director of Public Works, is already in discussion with the State as to the final site approval and installation. The points that the Town earns now for future grants is based on percentage of residents, versus the number of residents that was used for the Clean Energy sign-ups. The main part of these are related to the Home Energy audits that are completed plus some additional points for other energy related items which they may choose. There is also a general project type category where the Green Business Challenge program would apply. Commissioner Szerakowski was provided the necessary forms to fill out to send in for this program. Due to the later completion of the Community Pledge, Simsbury’s base energy usage year is one year later than originally thought. So it will now be from 2009 versus 2008. There are many other elements of the Clean Energy Community program that will directly benefit the Town with some free resources and other energy related initiatives. This will include support for the needed energy data entry, energy consulting, low income family energy aid and other help/initiatives. Mr. Roy has all of this information and contacts.
4. STATUS UPDATE of the GREEN BUSINESS CHALLENGE PROGRAM:
Commissioner Szerakowski indicated that the attendance at the first meeting was very limited with only Mr. David Bordonaro, President of McLean in attendance. However, based on discussion with Mr. Bordonaro, McLean already has been very active in energy saving pursuits and is very interested in working with CETF for future efforts. An additional visit was made with the owners of the Red Stone Pub who also have shown interest. Main efforts after the first of the year will be more direct contacts as well as working through organizations like Main Street Partnership, Simsbury Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club.
5. CETF WEBSITE DISCUSSION: Commissioners Van Kleef and Szerakowski met with Mr. Rick Bazzano who handles the Town’s website. Based on a general discussion of what is possible and what CETF would like to include, Mr. Bazzano indicated that it can be accommodated, but CETF will need to put together a plan along with some basic layouts. Once this is done, another meeting will be set up to discuss in more detail. Other possible Internet venues were discussed in general where there also may be other opportunities to help provide energy related information along with specific information in support of the Green Business program.
6. STATUS UPDATE of FUNDING of SIMSBURY HIGH SCHOOL ELECTRATHON BATTERIES: Commissioner Van Kleef indicated that the funding approved by CETF for the Electrathon batteries has been coordinated between the Town and the School District. The Team’s Advisor, Mr. Kurt Dougan will provide the invoice to the School business office and it will then be forwarded to the Town’s finance office to be paid out of CETF funds. No additional CETF involvement is necessary.
7. OPEN FORUM:
No additional topics were discussed.
8. NEXT MEETING
The next regularly scheduled meeting is January 5th.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Van Kleef motioned to adjourn the meeting at approximately 7:45 p.m. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Szerakowski and unanimously approved.