Energy Commission Minutes

Minutes of 6/26/2024

June 26th, 2024

Carroll Energy Commission Minutes
Meeting of June 26, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.
Carroll Town Hall Conference Room
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 and Secretary Imre Szauter, and Chair Bill Vecchio.

Members of the public in attendance: None.

The meeting was called to order at 5:01 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 June 18, 2024 meeting 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 called for any new items that were not listed on the agenda. Member Mycko stated that the Select Board approved adding solar rechargeable LED flag pole lights to three additional locations currently without them – Rosebrook Cemetery, Carroll Transfer Station, and St. Margeret’s Cemetery. Vice Chair Szauter displayed the 2024 budget to provide members with possible line numbers to which the solar rechargeable LED flag pole lights could be charged. Members agreed that “Miscellaneous” would be the appropriate line for this expenditure, totaling about $80.00, which includes the first solar rechargeable LED flag pole light that Member Mycko installed at Straw Cemetery.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio shared a copy of the NH Home Energy Performance brochure, provided by NHSaves. The brochure describes the $100 home energy audit available to utility customers to help improve their electricity conservation efforts by identifying improvements that include adding insulation, air sealing, upgrading appliances and heating and cooling systems, exchanging old lights with LED lights, and more. If the resident qualifies, they may receive up to $6,000 in incentives to implement any of the qualified measures. Chair Vecchio will make a PDF version available for posting on the town website.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the New Hampshire Department of Energy (NH DOE) Municipal Solar Grant Program. Vice Chair Szauter stated that he emailed copies of two documents provided by Barrington Power that addressed an insolation concern raised at the June 18 meeting.

The first document was a Shading Report, which indicated that the average TSRF (Total Solar Resource Fraction) for the west roof array was 80.2% and the south roof array 98.9%, for a combined average of 87.3%. A minimum insolation of 80% is required to qualify for the NH DOE Municipal Solar Grant Program, so the proposed solar PV array meets the requirement.

The second report was the Annual Production Report, which predicts the 59.6 kW DC solar PV array will produce an annual estimated 67.03 MWh of power. The 2023 Eversource Energy invoices billed the town for 60.14 MWh of power consumed at the Public Safety building, so the excess power produced by the solar PV array could be credited toward other Eversource Energy accounts through group net metering. Excess power production will be exported to the grid, for application to other Eversource Energy through group net metering.

Chair Vecchio indicated he submitted two questions to the NH DOE by the June 20 deadline.

Chair Vecchio reviewed the grant checklist items. He identified the items that either have been provided or will be requested from Ted Vansant at Barrington Power, along with items already received from the Town Clerk. Members agreed to work on obtaining the remaining items.

Members discussed letters of support for the grant. Three letters of support could be worth 5 points toward the application scoring total. Potential providers of letters of support were mentioned, including elected officials, businesses, and other interested parties.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the amount the town should request under the grant program. He mentioned he planned to invite Melissa Elander of Clean Energy New Hampshire (CENH) to the July 10, 2024 meeting and thought she might be able to share her thoughts on what amount would be reasonable. Vice Chair Szauter suggested that each member consider a range of numbers they are comfortable with, and following a discussion with Melissa Elander, offer their suggestion for the grant application.

Under Other, Chair Vecchio called for topics for discussion. Vice Chair Szauter stated that there had been no additional communications with Affinity LED Lighting on the street light conversion project. Member Mycko asked about the dumpster, whether the town or Affinity LED Lighting was responsible for procuring and placing it. Vice Chair Szauter agreed to reach out for clarification.

With no additional agenda items for discussion, Chair Vecchio entertained a motion for adjournment. Member Mycko motioned to adjourn. Member Greer seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary