Energy Commission Minutes

Minutes of 10/23/2024

October 23rd, 2024

Carroll Energy Commission Minutes
Meeting of October 23, 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 and Select Board Representative John Greer, Vice Chair and Secretary Imre Szauter, and Chair Bill Vecchio. Members Vern Amirault and Brian Mycko were absent.

Members of the public in attendance in person: None.

Members of the public in attendance via Zoom: Melissa Elander, Clean Energy New Hampshire (CENH) North Country Circuit Rider.

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chair Vecchio.

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

Chair Vecchio welcomed Melissa Elander of CENH, who attended the meeting via Zoom.

Chair Vecchio stated he would entertain a motion on the September 17 meeting minutes. Member Greer motioned to accept the minutes as written. Chair Vecchio stated he was absent from the meeting and could not vote to accept them as written. Without a quorum, the minutes were tabled for the November meeting.

Chair Vecchio offered a highlight of the Carroll Energy Commission’s first year of existence, noting that it was formed in October 2023 by the Select Board and is a Gold Municipal Member of CENH. He noted the Energy Commission highlights, as outlined in an executive summary (attached) which is available to the public.

In the interest of time, Chair Vecchio moved up the Status of Clean Energy New Hampshire battery storage study under Old Business. Vice Chair Szauter referenced a packet of materials distributed before the meeting that included three documents provided by Melissa Elander. Attendees reviewed the documents, with Melissa Elander noting the Municipal Battery Storage Pre-Quote Checklist was designed as an information collection tool for the upcoming CENH RFP template.

Considerable discussion took place regarding how to determine the proper battery storage size, its potential location, and additional requirements. Chair Vecchio agreed to reach out to Ted Vansant at Berrington Power for information and guidance on sizing a battery storage system for the town. Chair Vecchio and Vice Chair Szauter will coordinate collection of the Public Safety building electrical load information for the checklist and pass it along to Melissa Elander.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio suggested moving the Selection of Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary for 2024-2025 term to the end of the meeting; all agreed to do so.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the November 1 CENH Local Energy Solutions (LES) conference in Manchester, for which the Town of Carroll is entitled to four (4) passes resulting from its CENH Gold Municipal membership. Chair Vecchio, Vice Chair Szauter, Member Amirault, and Member Greer plan to meet in the Town Hall parking lot to carpool to the event.

Under Old Business, Vice Chair Szauter provided an update on the Affinity LED Lighting street light conversion project. An October 21 email from Johnny Muy at Affinity LED Lighting confirmed the October 18 delivery of the new LED streetlights to the Town of Carroll Highway Garage on Parker Road. The installation contractor is tentatively scheduling installation of the new LED streetlights for mid-November.

Vice Chair Szauter also provided an update on the four (4) streetlights on Rosebrook Lane discovered during the Affinity LED Lighting audit in June. A brief history of those streetlights was provided in an email from Bert Spiller of the Rosebrook Association Home Owners Association (HOA). Vice Chair Szauter will follow up with our administrative assistant to locate the original documents under which the town agreed to cover the cost of those streetlights.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio reviewed the status of the NH DOE Municipal Solar Grant Program. He stated the town is waiting to learn if it will receive a grant for the proposed Public Safety building solar PV array project. With regard to preparing a warrant article in anticipation of grant funding, members should circulate draft articles before the November 13 meeting and come prepared to finalize one for this project, contingent on receiving the grant from the NH DOE.

Vice Chair Szauter provided an update on additional information requested by the NH DOE related to our Municipal Solar Grant application. He and Member Greer worked on obtaining a Certificate of Authority (COA) and a Certificate of Insurance (COI). The COA was prepared and signed by the proper personnel; the COI ultimately was obtained through the town’s insurance provider through the quick action of Administrative Assistant, Meg Basnar. Additional documents required initialing and dating by Member Greer. The entire package was submitted to the NH DOE by the deadline.

Member Greer cautioned that if the town is notified it will receive funding under the NH DOE Municipal Solar Grant program, any media inquiries related to it must be directed to Susan Gagne at the NH DOE.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on potential Energy Commission draft warrant articles for the 2025 Town Meeting, including:
1) NH DOE Municipal Solar Grant Program to place a solar PV array on the Public Safety building.
2) Establishment of a Solar Operation and Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund.
3) Establishment of a battery storage system installation proposal.
4) Replenishment of the Energy Efficiency Capital Reserve Fund.

Examples provided by Melissa Elander and Chair Vecchio will speed up the process of drafting them in time for the first week of December deadline for submission to the Select Board. It should be noted that the first three potential warrant articles listed above are contingent on receiving confirmation of grant funding under the NH DOE Municipal Solar Grant Program.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio mentioned that he understood the NH DOE Commercial & Industrial Incentive Program application would be created by the solar PV array provider if the town receives grant funding under the NH DOE Municipal Solar Grant Program and voters approve the warrant article for installation of the system on the Public Safety building.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) proposal brought forth in a public information session on June 12 in the Carroll Town Hall. He stated he needed more information on the costs and benefits associated with the town’s possible adoption of the proposal.

Under Other, Chair Vecchio mentioned an article from the latest NH DOE newsletter.

At 6:12 p.m., Melissa Elander terminated her Zoom connection to attend another commitment.

Chair Vecchio mentioned his participation at the September 25 Master Plan Open House at the Town Hall, during which he set up a table and distributed the Carroll Energy Commission highlights (mentioned earlier in the meeting) and attached to these minutes.

Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the previously-deferred selection of officers for the 2024-2025 Energy Commission term. He indicated he was willing to serve another term as Chair, unless someone else would like to serve in that position. Member Greer nominated Bill Vecchio as Chair for the 2024-2025 term. With no second required, the vote was 3 AYES to 0 NAYS.

Chair Vecchio voiced his opinion that he would like to see the Vice Chair and the Secretary positions separated. Vice Chair Szauter expressed his willingness to serve as Secretary for another term, and in the absence of another commission member offering to serve as Vice Chair, he would continue in that role for another term if the commission so chooses. Chair Vecchio nominated Imre Szauter to serve as Secretary and Vice Chair. Vice Chair Szauter accepted the nomination, contingent on his reappointment to the Energy Commission by the Select Board. With no second required, the vote was 3 AYES to 0 NAYS. Member Greer stated he would add an item to the October 29 Select Board meeting related to Vice Chair Szauter’s reappointment to the Energy Commission for a three-year term.

With no additional items for discussion, Chair Vecchio entertained a motion for adjournment. Chair Vecchio motioned to adjourn. Member Greer seconded the motion. With no discussion, the motion passed unanimously with 3 AYES and 0 NAYS and the meeting was adjourned at 6:34 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary