Energy Commission Minutes

Minutes of 3/13/2024

March 18th, 2024

Carroll Energy Commission Minutes
Meeting of March 13, 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 and Select Board Representative John Greer, Member Brian Mycko, Vice Chair Imre Szauter, and Chair Bill Vecchio

Members of the public in attendance: Melissa Elander, Clean Energy New Hampshire (CENH)

The meeting was called to order at 5:02 p.m. by Chair Vecchio.

A Zoom session had been set up and advertised for this meeting, but no members of the public were on the session when the meeting began, so it was terminated.

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

Chair Vecchio welcomed Melissa Elander of Clean Energy New Hampshire (CENH) and congratulated the Energy Commission members on passage of Warrant Article 11, the LED street light conversion proposal.

Chair Vecchio stated he would entertain a motion on the February 14, 2024 meeting minutes. Member Mycko motioned to accept the minutes as written. Chair Vecchio seconded the motion. With no discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the March 12, 2024 Town Vote (Second Session) outcome of warrant Article 11. Vice Chair Szauter reported the results for Article 11 as 163 YES, 31 NO, and 3 undervotes (neither YES nor NO) with a total of 197 ballots cast. This is an 82.7% passage rate (84.0% not counting undervotes). Voter turnout was 33.3% of registered voters.

Vice Chair Szauter also reported a favorable outcome on Article 20, which establishes an Energy Efficiency Capital Reserve Fund (with the Select Board as agents to expend), with 127 YES, 60 NO, and 10 undervotes. This represents a 64.5% passage rate (67.9% not counting undervotes).

Member Greer offered his congratulations to the Energy Commission and encouraged them to continue their efforts on behalf of the town.

Chair Vecchio recognized and thanked Mellisa Elander and CENH for their guidance and support during the creation and promotion of the LED street light conversion proposal.

Vice Chair Szauter mentioned the outcome of the CEC member estimates for the Article 11 passage rate. He motioned to waive Price Is Right rules to award Member Amirault the win, as he was the closest to the actual outcome (82.7%) with his estimate of 89% passage rate. No one else was even close. Chair Vecchio seconded the motion. Following additional discussion, the motion passed with 4 YEAS and 1 NAY. Member Amirault was declared the winner.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the March 2 and March 9 transfer station distribution of information on Article 11 and display of the loaner Affinity LED Lighting street light. Members agreed the effort was worthwhile, as those town residents who stopped to talk and view the working streetlight asked good questions and in general supported the proposal. Members also felt that information distributions like this should be planned for all future Energy Commission projects and proposals.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on future projects and their priority. He stated that getting the LED street light conversion project underway is first priority, for which he will reach out to Steve Lieber at Affinity LED Lighting to set up a Zoom session to discuss the implementation steps. Members discussed removals and additions to the current street lighting inventory, once completed by Affinity LED Lighting.

Chair Vecchio next listed grants, rebates, and financing applicable for energy efficiency projects.

Mellisa Elander mentioned the NH DES (Department of Environmental Services) programs for drinking and wastewater systems, including no-cost audits that could help the town qualify for funding improvements to their systems. She will provide contact information to NH DES. Vice Chair Szauter agreed to provide information to the Water Commission at their March 19 meeting after communicating with NH DES officials.

Members discussed installation of solar PV (photovoltaic) arrays to further reduce the town’s Eversource electricity charges. Sites for consideration include rooftop mounts at the new Town Hall and Public Safety building, the recreation/pump house area, and the land adjacent to the transfer station. Melissa Elander shared some financial considerations for solar installations, such as leasing options, PPAs, and outright ownership.

Vice Chair Szauter announced that exploration of replacing the current highway garage on Parker Road has begun. The Energy Commission should participate in this effort to ensure energy efficiency receives proper attention.

Chair Vecchio asked Melissa Elander about the status of the battery storage study effort by CENH. She replied that there are four towns (including Carroll) that have expressed an interest in evaluating their needs for battery backup power during a sustained grid outage. Chair Vecchio polled commission members about proceeding with the study in Carroll and all agreed we should participate, starting after the NHSaves Button Up Workshop in April.

Member Amirault suggested that the Energy Commission draft a letter to Affinity LED Lighting requesting a formal quote for the cost of the LED street light conversion process. He volunteered to take on this effort, following our Zoom meeting with Affinity LED Lighting to determine the steps needed to produce the required data for a contract. Chair Vecchio agreed to set up a Zoom session with Steve Lieber and his Affinity LED Lighting team as soon as practical to get the project moving forward.

Chair Vecchio suggested the commission begin working on the solar PV array project and the battery storage project in cooperation with CENH after the April 11 NHSaves Button Up Workshop is complete. Members agreed.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the town’s ten (10) Eversource electric accounts. Member Mycko will provide information on solar flagpole lighting options so the St. Margaret’s Cemetery account could be closed after approval by Public Works Director, Scott Sonia.

The two accounts that service the recreation area were discussed next. Chair Vecchio asked if power is required for any emergency situations that might arise; members felt that question should be addressed to the police and fire chiefs. Members agreed that with approval from the fire chief, police chief, and Public Works Director, the meters could be removed with the understanding that they could be reinstalled if necessary. The current Eversource charge for a meter disconnect is $35.00; there is no charge for a meter reinstall. Vice Chair Szauter will speak with Chief Duncan, Chief Bailey, and PWD Sonia about disconnections at the recreation area.

Chair Vecchio asked if there were any other projects for consideration by the Energy Commission. Vice Chair Szauter stated that an EV (Electric Vehicle) charging station was mentioned at an earlier meeting because there is a buried electrical conduit that was installed specifically to feed an EV charging station between the Town Hall electrical room and the parking lot area near the flag pole. He felt this shouldn’t be a high priority item and although EVs are increasing in popularity they are not common place yet. Members agreed.

Chair Vecchio stated that community power should be a topic for consideration. Melissa Elander mentioned that all North Country municipalities considering a community power warrant article passed them on March 12 except Lancaster. She explained some of the concerns expressed about the process and the costs. Members agreed there is a need to learn the pros and cons of community power before bringing this issue to the public for consideration.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on developing an Energy Commission logo. He circulated several preliminary designs for review. Members agreed a logo would be appropriate to help identify the commission. Chair Vecchio said that he would continue to explore this issue and would keep this item on the agenda for further discussion.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the April 11 NHSaves Button Up Workshop. Member Mycko has placed the workshop announcement on several social media sites. Chair Vecchio confirmed that hardcopy fliers, including a smaller version created using ¼ of a sheet of 8.5” x 11” paper, were available for distribution around the community. Locations for the fliers were suggested. He confirmed that several local newspapers had published the workshop announcement, which he hopes will increase attendance on April 11. Refreshments for the workshop were discussed and members committed to bringing water, cookies, and perhaps other goodies for the evening.

Chair Vecchio confirmed that Energy Commission members will provide the laptop, video camera, and audio system for the workshop. He also stated that Eversource will not provide LED lightbulbs as giveaways for workshop attendees.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the April Energy Commission meeting date and time. Members agreed to move the regularly-scheduled second Wednesday of the month meeting of April 10 to April 11, to start immediately after the NHSaves Button Up Workshop concludes.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on setting up a Zoom meeting with Steve Lieber of Affinity LED Lighting regarding the next steps. Members agreed that the sooner, the better. Once Chair Vecchio secures a date and time, Vice Chair Szauter will request the town calendar be updated to announce this as a public meeting of the Energy Commission and post an agenda.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Elective Pay pre-filing process. Melissa Elander reminded members that any project submitted for a tax credit under this program must be complete and commissioned. With a large project such as one or more solar PV arrays on town property, it will be several years before the town could claim any tax credits. Therefore, this topic will be tabled for now.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Eversource Midnight Service Option, under which street lights would be turned off at midnight, saving the town approximately half of its street lighting energy costs as compared to the standard dusk-to-dawn photocell-controlled rate the town is currently paying. Based on information Chair Vecchio received from his Eversource contact, it appears the Midnight Service Option is rarely used in the state and doesn’t appear to offer a significant benefit to the town. Members agreed that this option should not be pursued during the LED street light conversion process.

Under Other, Chair Vecchio invited items for discussion; nothing was offered.

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 7:22 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary