In attendance: Sandra Bravo, Jenny Locke-Howley, Susan Moss, Laura Ryder
Review and approval of September Minutes with the following correction to Item #3c:
On the Town CIP plan, both Library weatherization and BACC weatherization are scheduled for 2026, not 2024 and 2025 respectively.
- Community Power Update
The Select Board made a motion to sign the joint powers agreement at their September 25th meeting. The Town of Bradford is now officially part of the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH.) Jenny Locke-Howley will attend the next meeting of CPCNH on October 26. We will confirm our assigned CPCNH contact who will guide our process in bringing the proposal to Town Meeting ‘24. Our first public hearing will be scheduled for early December. Jenny and Kathleen Bigford will work on the template for our town aggregation plan.
- Town Hall Renovation Project – See Bradford Bridge for updates.
- Municipal Weatherization Status
- Highway Garage Update – waiting for incentive payment of $4,316.65. NHSaves has reached out on the status of our projects.
- Fire Station – The work is expected to be completed in October. The Fire Department has done an incredible job prepping the Firehouse to be ready for this work.
- Solar Energy – No updates.
- Heat Pumps – No updates.
- Kearsarge Climate Action
- Update on Business Food Waste Diversion program in the Kearsarge Region. Results of outreach to the following businesses and schools located in Bradford is shown below. Nationwide, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from food waste is 8%. Nearest commercial composting is in Derry. We will continue to work on the issue of food waste.
- Pizza Chef – solid waste
- Wicked Sweet Café – pigs
- Sweet Beet Market – production of organic compost
- Dunkin – some to pigs
- Rosewood Inn – pigs
- Appleseed Restaurant- pigs
- Kearsarge Regional School District (7 schools) – there is no uniform policy on management of food waste. At some schools some food waste goes to pigs.
- Site visits to a number of businesses and schools is being scheduled for 10/23 and 11/7.
- Update on Business Food Waste Diversion program in the Kearsarge Region. Results of outreach to the following businesses and schools located in Bradford is shown below. Nationwide, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from food waste is 8%. Nearest commercial composting is in Derry. We will continue to work on the issue of food waste.
- Legislative Updates
- A good place to stay on top of NH legislative updates is through the https://www.newhampshirenetwork.org/NH-bills
- Reintroduction of The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act in Congress
- Citizens Climate Lobby is working with state legislators to get a proxy carbon pricing bill submitted for the 2024 legislative session. You can learn the basics about proxy carbon pricing at https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/04/CarbonPricing-summary.pdf.
- BEC Public Outreach
- The October issue of the Bradford Bridge contained an article entitled “Bradford Community Power Moving Forward”.
- BEC participated in the Community Fair at Sweet Beet on September 23. We brought hands-on activities supplied by the NH Energy Education Project, engaging all ages in building wind turbines, testing the benefits of weatherization of homes, and generating the energy required to light LED bulbs vs Incandescent bulbs by riding a bike. We would like to find more ways to engage the community in energy issues.
- Laura will supply info to Karen, Town Administrator, for the town website on how to understand eligibility for energy related rebates and tax credits. Community Power info will be provided by Jenny. The Committee suggested this information be available on the town website under a new category “Energy Savings”. Details are to be worked out. Links to other related info will be listed on the website too.
- Proposed articles for November Bridge
- Community Power update and announcing the date in early December for a public hearing on Community Power.
- Sandra proposed writing an article on the business waste diversion work.
- Other Items
- Economic Development opportunity for EV Charging Station in Bradford? Listening sessions are being scheduled for municipalities to find out more. The program is targeted to rural and economically disadvantaged areas. October 26th is the next session.
- NH Network – 10/19/23 Kickoff Zoom Meeting of Energy Working Group comprised of statewide Energy Committees and individuals. Sandra and Laura will attend.
- 2023 Local Energy Solutions (LES) Conference November 2, 2023. Kathleen, Sandra and Susan will attend.
- Conclude: Next meeting November 21st 5-6pm.