Energy Commission Minutes

Minutes of 9/8/2025

September 8th, 2025

Carroll Energy Commission Minutes
Meeting of September 8, 2025 @ 4:30 p.m.
Carroll Town Hall Community 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 John Greer, Member Karen Moran, Member and Select Board Representative Brian Mycko, Vice Chair and Secretary Imre Szauter, and Chair Bill Vecchio. Member Vern Amirault was not present.

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

The meeting was called to order at 4:30 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 Aug. 25, 2025 meeting minutes. Member Mycko motioned to accept the minutes as written. Member Moran seconded the motion. With no discussion, the motion passed with 5 AYES and 0 NAYS.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio invited Melissa Elander to begin a discussion on her creation of a CENH blog post on the Town of Carroll LED streetlight conversion project. She provided a list of questions for consideration via email, as shown below:

• What was your motivation for wanting to do the LED streetlight project?
• Did you find that there were collaborative efforts across town departments regarding the planning and implementation of this project?
• Beyond saving the town money, has the project been successful in other ways?
• How long did the project take and what were some of the challenges that you faced while implementing this project?
• Is there anything that you’ve learned during this process that you would share with other towns/Energy Committees?
• What do you consider some of the keys to success for getting this project across the finish line?
• What resources were most helpful as you navigated this project?
• How did you obtain voter support for this project?
• The town just completed installation of a solar array at the Public Safety Building. Did the streetlight project have any impact on the solar project?

Following a lengthy discussion, Melissa Elander thanked Commission members for their input and stated she would provide a draft copy of the article for review and approval before posting it on the CENH website.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Aug. 30 Pancake Breakfast Energy Commission display. Vice Chair Szauter stated that two community members stopped by for a tour of the Public Safety building solar PV array system project, which had not yet been commissioned. There will be one final display at the Oct. 11 Pancake Breakfast, which will include a live Solar-Log display of the solar PV array production.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on electric utility rate setting in New Hampshire. He created a spreadsheet to assist the town in forecasting its 2026 electricity budget. Using consumption data from Sep. 2024 through Aug. 2025 for each Eversource account, the resulting estimated budget amount using current electricity and service rates would be approximately $56,750. Reducing the forecast Public Safety building consumption by an expected 70%, due to the new solar PV array system output, brings the forecast budget to $47,630. The Public Safety building solar PV array forecast can be adjusted as Eversource Energy invoices begin arriving with the net energy metering (NEM) data included.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the 2026 Energy Commission budget. He distributed a draft budget to start the discussion, suggesting that three line items (advertisements, miscellaneous, and consultant fees) be increased from 2025 levels. With no changes suggested to Chair Vecchio’s draft, Member Mycko made a motion to submit the draft budget as presented to the Select Board at their Oct. 14 meeting. Member Moran seconded the motion. With no additional discussion, the motion passed with 5 AYES and 0 NAYS. Chair Vecchio reminded members that he would not be present at the Oct. 14 Select Board meeting, so Vice Chair Szauter will present the 2026 budget and answer questions if needed.

Under New Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the federal tax credit preparation for the Public Safety building solar PV array system project. Member Greer previously volunteered to work with his wife, Anita to research the steps necessary for the town to register with the IRS and claim the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act of 2022) tax credit for the project.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the landfill/transfer station property use for a solar PV array. Members reviewed activities to obtain additional proposals for placing a solar PV array on the town’s closed landfill. Following additional discussion, Member Mycko made a motion to recommend to the Select Board that they sign the Kearsarge Energy Letter of Intent, dated Jun. 17, 2025. Chair Vecchio seconded the motion. A concern was raised regarding any requirement to post a bond to cover future decommissioning of the site. Members agreed that will be an issue raised with town counsel if the Select Board proceeds with the Letter of Intent. With no additional discussion, the motion passed with 5 AYES and 0 NAYS. Chair Vecchio agreed to present the Commission’s recommendation at the Sep. 9 Select Board meeting.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Public Safety building Municipal Solar Program solar PV array system project. Vice Chair Szauter provided an update which included the commissioning of the system on Sep. 4, following installation of the new Eversource Energy net meter. He reminded members that the Solar-Log display of array statistics is available on the town homepage by clicking on “*NEW* SOLAR ARRAY STATISTICS” or directly at https://carrollnh.org/solar.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Davis-Bacon & Related Acts (DBRA) compliance LCPTracker. Member Moran provided an update on her efforts to access and approve the payroll information in the system. She did not find any additional postings, but will check again during the week.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the CENH blog post opportunity. Melissa Elander collected the information she needed earlier in the meeting, so there is no additional update on this topic.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on new projects and priorities. Members believe the Commission should focus on completion of the landfill project planning, if approved by the Select Board. Warrant article preparation should be the priority during the next few months, as draft warrant articles are due to the Select Board in early December.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the Affinity LED Lighting streetlight repairs. Vice Chair Szauter provided an update on the three defective LED streetlights that have been returned for repair under warranty.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on Eversource Energy ledger and invoice issues. Vice Chair Szauter reported that we are waiting for the August Eversource Energy streetlight invoice, which was requested on Sep. 1. Eversource Energy NewServiceCenter rep, Chris called on Sep. 5 to report the Eversource Energy ledger had been updated with our requested changes. A request for a copy of the updated ledger has been made so it can be compared to the August invoice to identify additional corrections if necessary. He will continue discussions with Eversource Energy and keep the NHDOE posted.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on Rosebrook Lane streetlights on the town’s Eversource Energy account. There has been no recent activity on this issue.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the St. Margaret Cemetery Eversource Energy meter and account. He provided an update on his activities, including replacement of the defective mechanical timer with a photocell, and replacement of the padlock. The padlock’s key has been placed in the Town Hall Main Office lockbox for access by authorized personnel.

Under Old Business, Chair Vecchio opened a discussion on the CENH LES (Local Energy Solutions) conference in Manchester on Sep. 25. Chair Vecchio indicated that he and Member Moran are planning to attend, along with a representative of the Planning Board.

Under Tabled, Chair Vecchio stated that he was not aware of any activities related to the three tabled items. Members agreed the items should remain tabled.

Chair Vecchio reminded members the next Energy Commission meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 5:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Community Room.

With no additional items for discussion, Chair Vecchio entertained a motion for adjournment. Member Mycko motioned to adjourn. Member Greer seconded the motion. With no additional discussion, the motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 6:18 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary

Carroll Energy Commission
Vern Amirault, Member, 2023-2025
John Greer, Member, 2023-2025
Karen Moran, Member, 2025-2027
Brian Mycko, Member and Select Board representative, 2023-2026
Imre Szauter, Vice Chair and Secretary, 2025-2027
Bill Vecchio, Chair, 2023-2026
Note: terms end in October of the listed year