Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2010 Clean Energy Committee Meeting

Called to Order

A regular meeting of the Clean Energy Committee was held i at the Enfield Town Hall, Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on April 6, 2010.  The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairman LaPlante.

Roll Call

Roll call was taken with Karen LaPlante, Ray Gwozdz, Steve Moriarty, Jeff Myjak, and Gerry Lafleur present.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Minutes of Preceding Meeting

Karen LaPlante had one correction under new business where she stated her conversation was with Cat West, and not Rebecca Meyer as recorded. Motion to approve as amended made by Ray and seconded by Steve. Motion as amended passed unanimously.

Discussion of Energy Challenges/Old Business

-Discussion on Earth Day/Municipal Facility Energy challenge concerning award recognition based on percentage of conservation and not awarding a 1^st, 2^nd, and third prize. A platinum award will go to the overall winning facility. Gold awards will be for those achieving 20% conservation, silver for 15%, and bronze for 10 % conservation. Set up like this, there could be multiple “gold” awards given, and so forth, based on the facility’s percentage.

-The challenge is planned for an 8 week duration period, with any facility’s ideas for conservation to be posted on the website.

-Further discussion concerned Geoff McAlmonds’s plan to obtain results based on the facility’s square footage percentage, and whether or not it would be better to calculate results on the total percentage of savings overall from last year for each participating facility. Group plans to have further discussion with Geoff McAlmond.

-We decided a good “kick-off” announcement should be made on April 22, the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day.

-Group also would like to have weekly achievements and a cumulative total posted on the website throughout the challenge.

-Karen discussed the idea of having the W. Hartford facilities manager discuss the results of their challenge with the facilities captains to give ideas/encouragement on what they did to achieve their goals. She will try to contact him and see if it is possible.

-Gerry will put together a press release and hopes to have a quote from Geoff McA included which will specifically state how much savings could be obtained for the town if the facilities conserve up to 20%. This will help give a “concrete” dollar amount to the challenge and hopefully spur interest with town employees and residents. Gerry will e-mail release to Joel once completed.

-Karen mentioned that the town has a conservation tips page on its website, but there is not a direct link from there to the CEC site. Can Joel see if we can obtain this link?

-Ray mentioned the town July 4^th parade has an environmental/recycling theme this year, and wondered if after the facilities challenge is successful, we could put together some similar type of challenge between Town Council members? (and possibly include Matt if he’s interested).

New Business

-Steve is planning an Open House April 24^th. He will send a press release to the JI/Reminder, and Enfield Press. He plans on having flyers to hand out at the event so people can sign up for the Clean Energy Options Program right away if interested. We plan on having a Sterling Planet/Clean Energy Committee cross-reference of the handouts.

-Discussion followed on the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) where the town is planning on purchasing and having rehab done to six buildings in Thompsonville. Peter Boynton mentioned he would like to have a “green” energy efficiency focus to the rehab process. Group discussed following the LEED program requirements for any work to be done. Ray mentioned the current issue of Preservation magazine’s main article focused on rehabilitating historic (i.e. older) buildings, specifically, the Empire State Building. He will contact Roger Alsbaugh to have him send a PDF file to group members. Committee was in agreement to push a “green” agenda for this ongoing rehabilitation project.

Correspondence

-Information was passed concerning the DEP Calendar of Events, Bridgeport’s “B Green 2020” program, Gov. Rell’s plan to keep clean energy dollars in the budget for the Clean Energy Fund and Efficiency Fund.

-E-mail from John from the Sierra Club was discussed concerning the Sierra Club’s presentation for a planned 6 month program to help people sign up for energy audits. Group agreed it would like to be a part of this. Steve mentioned he would be willing to share this Sierra Club presentation at the Senior Center/Library.

-Steve discussed a power company’s plan of installing a solar array on 120 acres in Monson, MA at no cost to the town which he also brought up at last week’s Plan of Conservation and Development meeting. He plans on contacting them to review any potential opportunity for Enfield.

-Discussion followed to push the P and Z to update regulations concerning solar/wind farms in the future.

-Jeff asked of any possible town incentives for malls or any flat roofed buildings in town to install solar panels. Group was unsure of what Enfield could do by way of incentives it could provide, especially with the financial problems we currently have.

-Group discussed the upcoming Taste of Enfield celebration and will ask Joel if there will be any opportunity for the group to have or share a booth with other town departments this year.

Adjournment

 Steve made a motion to adjourn which was seconded by Jeff. At 7:38, group voted to adjourn.