Energy Committee Agenda 04.16.24

Review and approval of March Minutes – Proposed amendment. The NHSaves incentive payment for the Fire Station weatherization has not yet been received. The Town Administrator is in the process of submitting the required documentation for reimbursement.

  • Community Power Update
  • Town Hall Renovation Project – See Bradford Bridge for updates.
  • Municipal Weatherization Status  
    • Fire Station Update. The project has been completed. The Town Administrator is in the process of submitting the required documentation to NHSaves for an anticipated rebate of $11,871.50. 
  • Solar Energy – No updates.  
  • Heat Pumps – The Town approved Article Twenty-One:  To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) to fund the installation of a Heat Pump to provide heating and cooling for the office areas and meeting room at the Fire Station.  The Chief has solicited updated proposals from contractors so that the work can proceed.
  • New Hampshire Network Update
  • Legislative Updates
    • A good place to stay on top of NH legislative updates is through the https://www.newhampshirenetwork.org/NH-bills
    • The BEC submitted a letter to Senator Howard Pearl, Chair of the NH Energy and Natural Resources Committee and to the other Committee members stating we support the adoption and enforcement of modern building energy codes in New Hampshire and ask that HB1059 be amended to include both the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and Chapter 11 – Energy Efficiency of the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC). 

Without the amendments Senator Shaheen has warned that NH may lose its eligibility for several federal funds. NH Healthcare Workers have also warned that without these amendments the outdated energy codes could increase air mold, particulates, and temperature extremes. Without the amendments, building will be less efficient, which would put more demand on our already overworked transmission grids. The amendments were approved by the NH House on April 10, 2024.

  • Other bills impacting energy and the environment are appended to this Agenda.
  • BEC Public Outreach
    • The April issue of the Bradford Bridge reported that residents approved the Bradford Community Power Aggregation Plan and summarized next steps.
  • Proposed articles for May Bridge?
    • Sandra will prepare an article summarizing the Municipal Weatherization projects completed at the Library, Highway Building, Fire Station and Town Hall resulting in NHSaves incentive payments of greater than $40,000.
  • Other Items
  • Conclude