Energy Commission Minutes

Minutes of 2/2/2024

February 5th, 2024

Carroll Energy Commission Minutes
Meeting of February 2, 2024

The Carroll Energy Commission mission is to advise, encourage, and facilitate energy conservation, energy efficiency, and clean energy solutions for public buildings and properties, businesses, and resident homes. The Committee shall provide leadership and direction for community education relating to energy and shall propose and explore funding for local energy projects.
These minutes of the Town of Carroll Energy Commission have been recorded by its Secretary. Though believed to be accurate and correct they are subject to additions, deletions, and corrections by the Energy Commission at its next meeting when the Commission votes its final approval of the minutes. They are being made available at this time to conform to the requirements of New Hampshire RSA 91-A:2.

Minutes recorded by Imre Szauter, Secretary

Commission members in attendance: Member Vern Amirault, Member Brian Mycko, Vice Chair Imre Szauter, and Chair Bill Vecchio

Members of the public in attendance: None

The meeting was called to order at 3:33 p.m. by Chair Vecchio.

Chair Vecchio invited all attendees to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chair Vecchio stated he would entertain a motion on the January 10, 2024 meeting minutes. Member Mycko motioned to accept the minutes as written. Chair Vecchio seconded the motion. With no discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Chair Vecchio stated he would entertain a motion on the January 24, 2024 Informational Session minutes. Member Amirault motioned to accept the minutes as written. Member Mycko seconded the motion. With no discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the warrant article for conversion of the town’s street lights to LED. Members discussed the original Affinity LED Lighting proposal, current Eversource rebate, and the estimated payback period.

Chair Vecchio made a motion for authorization to amend the warrant article at the deliberative session to reflect the newly-confirmed Eversource rebate amount ($12,400), the newly-calculated net amount after the rebate is applied ($51,002), and the newly-calculated payback period (3.75 years) while holding the Affinity LED Lighting proposal amount ($63,402) constant. Member Mycko seconded the motion. To ensure clarity, Chair Vecchio read back the proposed amended warrant article:

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate Sixty-Three Thousand Four Hundred and Two Dollars ($63,402) for the purpose of replacing town street lights with energy efficient LED lights and to partially fund this appropriation with a rebate through Eversource in the amount of Twelve Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($12,400). The net amount to be raised from taxes will be Fifty-One Thousand and Two Dollars ($51,002). If approved, this installation will produce estimated savings that should result in a full payback within 3.75 years.
The Board of Selectmen recommends this appropriation 3-0.
Tax Impact: $0.09

With no further discussion, the motion was passed unanimously.

Members discussed the number of reported defective street lights and how at least three have been replaced by Eversource with new LED fixtures instead of High Pressure Sodium (HPS) fixtures.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on handouts for attendees at the deliberative session. Members reviewed and approved the draft Proposed Street Light Conversion From Existing High Pressure Sodium (HPS) to Light Emitting Diode (LED) Fixtures spreadsheet created by Chair Vecchio. Members also reviewed and approved the six-slide PowerPoint information handout created by Chair Vecchio. Vice Chair Szauter agreed to make sufficient copies of both handouts for the deliberative session.

As a reminder, Vice Chair Szauter stated the deliberative session (first session) would be held on Monday, February 5, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Community Room.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on scheduling the Button Up New Hampshire energy savings workshop, presented by the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) of Plymouth, NH. The workshop focuses on ways to improve the energy efficiency of a house and outlines available NHSaves rebates, including those for electric and gas appliances, insulation upgrades, and other professionally- or DIY-completed improvements. Members considered dates that might interest the most residents, selecting April 10, 2024 as the first choice and April 24, 2024 as the second choice. The workshop typically runs from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., with the presenter willing to stay longer if needed.

Advertising for the Button Up New Hampshire workshop was discussed, using social media, flyers, and postings on the town website. Chair Vecchio suggested establishing an official Energy Commission email account to allow the Energy Commission to communicate with the public and each other. Vice Chair Szauter will contact Administrative Assistant, Megan Basnar to get an email account set up using the address energycommission@townofcarroll.org.

Chair Vecchio will determine what equipment the presenter needs for the workshop and whether refreshments will be served. Vice Chair Szauter suggested determining if the workshop should be Zoomed; Member Mycko offered to host the meeting on the town’s Zoom account if needed.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio stated that he invited Clean Energy NH North Country Energy Circuit Rider, Melissa Elander to attend the March 13, 2024 Energy Commission meeting either in person or via Zoom, as this meeting would be the first meeting after Town Vote (second session). He indicated he would like to begin looking at other potential projects and establishing priorities, and reviewing grant and rebate opportunities once the street light conversion warrant article is decided on March 12.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the need for municipalities to pre-register to qualify for tax credits on approved energy-efficiency projects. Vice Chair Szauter suggested either approaching the Select Board with a request to pre-register the town or request John Greer as our Select Board representative to spearhead the pre-registration process. Chair Vecchio will contact Member Greer to discuss his willingness to take on this responsibility.

Member Amirault asked if reaching out to Steve Lieber, founder and president of Affinity LED Lighting of Dover, NH about participating in the March 13, 2024 Energy Commission meeting would be appropriate, given that Town Vote (second session) would be held the day before and the outcome of the street light conversion warrant article would be known. Members agreed it would be appropriate to do so.

With no other agenda items to discuss, Chair Vecchio entertained a motion for adjournment. Member Mycko motioned to adjourn. Member Amirault seconded the motion. With no additional discussion, the motion was passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 5:09 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary