In attendance: Sandra Bravo, Jenny Locke-Howley, Susan Moss, Laura Ryder, Rett Weber, Marlene Freyler
Review and approval of April Minutes.
- Community Power Update – Kathleen Bigford presented to the Selectboard on May 19, 2025 an offer to purchase discounted solar electricity for local municipalities from the Poverty Plains solar facility being developed in Warner. The Town of Bradford would continue to buy their electric supply through CPC but would be purchasing 100 percent renewable energy. There is no cost to the town. Joining would result in $900-$1,000 savings a year on energy costs. Commitment from the Selectboard needs to be signed by the end of June. Jenny will write an article for the June Bradford Bridge.
- Municipal Weatherization Status. Still waiting on response. Margaret Dillion, of S.E.E.D.S, who was contracted by NHSaves to conduct the energy audits of Braford’s municipal buildings, has agreed to assist the BEC to quantify the energy savings from implementation of energy saving measures at the Highway and Fire Department buildings. She has been very busy but promises that she can get to this soon.
- Solar Energy – update on SolSmart. The non-profits Clean Energy NH and SolSmart are partnering to help municipalities establish smart solar zoning and permitting at the local level. This program is free to municipalities. Sandra has solicited feedback from the Selectboard (Chip), the Planning Board, the Zoning Board, the Building Inspector and Fire Chief to determine whether Bradford should create a solar ordinance and start working on a draft. To date little feedback has been received. Marlene states that this falls under the purview of the Planning Board. A solar ordinance would be beneficial to anyone planning to install solar by establishing a framework for working with solar companies. Rett and Susan plan to work on this in the fall.
- Electrification
a. Geothermal opportunities. Sandra and Steve Hall (and Crew) met with representatives of Ultra Geothermal on May 13 at the Highway building. Ultra Geothermal has been in the heating and cooling industry for more than 20 years. They have become the leading New Hampshire geothermal installer and will provide Bradford with an estimate for geothermal heating/cooling at the Highway Building.
Geothermal is the most energy efficient method of heating and cooling. Installation is costly, but the long-term cost and comfort benefits are great and we need to make this option known. - b. Air Source Heat Pump installation opportunities? The one town building that could still benefit is the BACC. Weatherization recommendations have been on hold due to the cost of removing asbestos in the current insulation, but addressing the heating and cooling of this building needs to remain on our list of projects for the town. Laura will look through the notes from NH Network for info programs to assist with the costs of installing heat pumps. Many energy grants have not been renewed.
- New Hampshire Network Update
No new information - Legislative Updates
a. A good place to stay on top of NH legislative updates is through https://www.newhampshirenetwork.org/NH-bills
b. HB504 Relative to the state energy policy. The Senate passed an amended version of HB504, significantly improving on the deeply flawed House proposal. While CENH’s overall perspective is still that this bill is unnecessary, the Senate version restores key language affirming the state’s commitment to cost-effective energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, and the protection of public health, safety, and the environment. Thanks to strategic advocacy and stakeholder engagement, the amended bill avoids the most harmful provisions of the House version—such as the complete removal of emissions and environmental considerations—and acknowledges the continued need for both regulatory and market-based mechanisms to achieve the state’s energy goals.
c. ISO Withdrawal Study Bill Moves Forward – The Senate passed HB690, which directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to investigate the possibility of New Hampshire withdrawing from the Independent System Operator of New England of New England (ISO-NE). While the final version stops short of endorsing this radical idea, the bill still requires a taxpayer-funded analysis of a scenario that is legally dubious, logistically unworkable, and economically reckless. The ISO coordinates regional electricity markets and ensures grid reliability across six states, and—at a minimum—New Hampshire would need to replicate these functions before withdrawing.
d. HB284 – requiring tax impact statements on municipal warrant articles was voted down. This bill would have had a chilling effect on clean energy adoption at the local level by forcing towns to highlight the upfront costs of renewable energy or efficiency projects without including long-term savings or avoided costs. It would have also required multi-year breakdowns for lease or financing agreements—common for solar or energy performance contracts—further distorting public understanding of such projects. Even more troubling, the bill gave final authority over these estimates to governing bodies, opening the door to politicized or inaccurate figures that could skew public opinion.
e. The Senate prepares to consider budget amendments in the coming weeks and Senator Innis needs to hear that you oppose reallocation of Renewable Energy Funds (REF) that support popular, high-impact programs that help Granite Staters lower energy costs, invest in local clean energy and grow our economy. Daniel.innis@gc.nh.gov - BEC Public Outreach in May
a. A notice about Bradford Community Power was published.
b. The NHSaves Button Up workshop was held April 24, 2025 at the Warner Town Hall from 7:00 – 8:30. Sandra and Susan attended. Most of the attendees were members of local Energy or Conservation Commissions. There was little or no attendance from the public. We will continue to promote NHSaves to Bradford residents through articles in the Bradford Bridge to help people realize how valuable it is to do the free energy audit. - BEC Public Outreach in June -Jenny will write about the Poverty Plains Solar installation in Warner (see #3).
- Other Items
a. Inflation Reduction Funds availability not known. NHSaves and EV rebates are functional. - Conclude: Next meeting on June 17, Tuesday 5-6.