Energy Committee Minutes 01.18.22

Meeting at BACC 5:00-6:00 pm. Attended: Sandra Bravo, Kathleen Bigford, Laura Ryder, Susan Moss

  1. Review and approval of December Minutes: Approved
  2. Status of Bradford Energy Mission Statement and Draft Energy Policy
    a. The BEC will present a Community-wide Energy Goal to the Select Board for inclusion as a Warrant Article for the March Town Meeting which commits to transitioning to renewable sources of electricity by 2030 and renewable sources of fuel for heating and transportation by 2050. These goals have been adopted by the Federal Government and many cities and towns across the country.
    b. In recommending that residents approve these goals, we commit to using fiscal prudence and affordability as criteria in the evaluation and selection of potential energy projects to help Bradford achieve these goals.
  3. Weatherization Status of 3 Bradford Municipal Facilities
    a. After a discussion of the merits of the contractor proposals and costs, project feasibility and Return on Investment (ROI) the BEC is recommending that Energy Savings Measures be implemented at the Highway Garage. We will request that the Select Board include weatherization funding of $13,000 as an article for 2022 Town Meeting. If the NH Saves program is reinstated at 2020 levels, the town will be eligible for a 35% incentive of $4,300 pending approval by the NHSaves program.
    b. If the article is not approved, the BEC will seek signatures for a petition to include it on the Warrant by 1/27/22. (Should we say this here or just wait until after the meeting tonight?
    c. The BEC will present this weatherization funding request to the Budget Committee on 1/27/22.
  4. Municipal Solar Opportunities
    a. Andy Spiegel, of Granite State Solar (GSS), did a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility of installing roof top solar panels on Bradford’s municipal buildings utilizing current electricity usage and Google Earth. This high level review indicated the Highway Garage Building is the most favorable location. The Committee also thought that the highway facility would be a good location for recharging future electric town vehicles, making solar capability there even more cost effective.
    b. We will investigate various strategies used by area towns who have added solar to public buildings with no upfront costs to their towns.
  5. Kearsarge Regional School District (KRSD) Renewable Opportunities
    The entire BEC approved the signing and sending of a letter to the Superintendent and KRSD Board to support the inclusion of renewable energy opportunities in the proposed STEAM renovation plans at the high school.
  6. Improving Public Presence of BEC
    a. A summary of BEC Activities for 2021 Annual Town Report was written and approved
    by the entire BEC and has been submitted to the Town Report for 2021.
    b. An article on electric bikes will be printed in the February Bradford Bridge.
  7. BEC documentation management
    We are continuing to build our document files in Google Drive
  8. Other Items
    a. Window Dressers: After printing an article in the Bridge about this program, we have concluded that there is not sufficient interest to warrant proceeding. Energy committees in surrounding towns in our area have noted the same.
  9. Conclude: Next Meeting will be on February 15th at 5:00pm at the BACC.

Respectfully submitted by Susan Reeder Moss