TOWN OF NEWTOWN
OFFICE OF THE ASSESSOR
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COMMISSION
MINUTES
APRIL 15, 2010 @ 7:30-9:15PM
NEWTOWN MUNICIPAL CENTER:
SHARED MEETING ROOM
3 PRIMROSE STREET
NEWTOWN, CT 06470
PRESENT: DAN HOLMES, KATHLEEN QUINN, BEN ROBERTS, TED KREINIK, BILL HART, JIM SMITH, CHRISTOPHER BERCHEM, DESIREE GALASSI
ALSO PRESENT: FRED HURLEY, DYLAN BERGER, GARY NURNBERGER
Sustainable Energy Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30pm by Chairperson, Dan Holmes.
Introduction(s)
- Member(s) of the Commission:
Dan Holmes- Chairman
Kathleen Quinn- Commission Member
Ben Roberts- Commission Member
Ted Kreinik- Commission Member
Fred Hurley- Town Engineer
Terrance Ford- Commission Member
Desiree Galassi- Commission Member
Bill Hart- Commission Member
Jim Smith- Commission Member
Christopher Berchem- Commission Member
Communications
- Yale School of Forestry : April 23 & 24, 2010
Speakers, Presentations, etc.
- John Gorham – Woodbury Energy Task Force
Energy Audit Company
Intention is to get hundreds of homeowners to sign up for Clean Energy.
Renewable Energy & Efficiency Business Association
Having a table @ the Duck Race (Sign-up Table)
Fred Hurley: Public Work’s Department (Communications)
- Constellation contract signed for energy for the Town of Newtown
(3) Companies RFP’s.
Best deal for the length of time the town was looking for was Constellation.
Glacial was lower for the (3) months, but after indexing which was a concern.
14 month deal @ 8.36 which is actually lower then what was proposed in
RFP.
Caught a down turn in natural gas prices & electrical prices are very often
based on natural gas.
By doing (14) month contract we finish up this year & it carries us through
the next budget year.
Will give us time to track what happens with indexing over next (14)
months.
One concern that was brought up was whether or not hidden costs were
included in the fixed price & after reading through contract it is in fact
included in the fixed price.
Dealing directly with Constellation Office in Boston.
Have an account executive handling communications which was a huge
problem last year.
Users do have to deal with (2) bills:
- Delivery Bill : CL&P
- Generation Bill : Constellation
- Natural Gas supplier for the town
Town works through CROG which is the regional consortium in the Hartford
area.
Current contract for Natural Gas is extended through June 30, 2011
BOE is month to month
Town has a contract
Supplier is Hess
CROG would like to know if we are going to continue with current
arrangement.
Reverse Auction on energy prices for next series of contracts which will
start July 1, 2011
Extending into (3) year contracts
Consortium currently
Fred did notify Geno with the BOE to have a sit down & see what there
interest is as well.
Requesting account information in order to get an idea of how much gas
the town is actually using.
Waste Water Treatment Plant, Town Hall, new Municipal Building & Police
Station is Natural Gas.
BOE is shifting to Natural Gas as well.
Town is becoming a big user of Natural Gas.
Switching fleet over to Natural Gas which is part of the Energy Grant.
Deregulated : Leaves alternatives for purchasing.
Compressed Natural Gas fueling stations
Models to take a look at & help to determine structure
- Location of fueling station is key.
- Tie off a high pressure line, bring it in, compressor.
- Fuel tank modification to fleet.
- Injectors for diesel.
Less air pollution, burns cleaner, wear & tear on engine is reduced.
Multiple fuels / dual fuels : Transition Process
Town Side:
Hybrids
Police Station to switch over in the future.
Money to subsidize buying hybrid vehicles in town.
Shifting of combustion equipment
Cleaner/particulate matter
Creating a list of vehicles that would benefit.
Applies mostly to older vehicles.
Buying or retrofit existing vehicles.
Under repairs
State Grant
Financing problems
Site problems
Concern was the impact on the Aquifer
Fuel Issues
- Energy Performance Company
RFP’s
ESCO
Finance Energy Savings
Tax Credits
Capitol Investment in Town
Do not need to allocate new funds.
Capitol Leases vs. Operational Leases
Moody’s
Impact on Bond Cap
10% : Town determined
- Quarterly Report for Energy Grant
Extended time frame to review RFP’s
(4) week extension
ESCO/Gas/LED’s
ESCO : $20,000 for consultant to study energy efficiency for Town
Put a program together.
- Put a sub-committee together to focus on the $20,000 grant for consultant
- CL&P as an extension of energy conservation efforts
Consultant came in & proposed additional controls (Police Station, Waste
Water Treatment Plant & Town Garage).
Last one conducted about 4-5 years ago
BOE did do level 1 changes, but a town wide energy audit needs to be
established
Energy Star Program
Infrastructure baseline town wide
Ratings on all town buildings
Points & credits for Leed Certification
Standard to measure things by
Energy Survey
Measurable Goal
EPA : No Cost.
Testing is done individually versus data collection
Identifies weaknesses
Develop strategies / Impact
Raw data on all buildings
Link town/BOE buildings
Inventory on all buildings
Common database
-Goal is to put more information & clarity out to the public
-Projects
-Predictability
-Tracking of utility bills on a continuous bases
- Solar Panels for buildings
- Grant Research
- Geothermal
Money in the fund
Timeline (Bob Wall)
Reducing operating budget
Grant Match
Ground based pumps: Air extraction is right at limit. In winter can’t get
enough heat out of the air. Heating Coil.
About 50% electricity cut in air conditioning seasons
COP
System Lifetime
Public Comment
Acceptance of Minutes: April 15, 2010
- Chairperson, Daniel Holmes, motioned to review & accept the minutes during the next meeting.
- All commissioners in favor.
Business
Center around committees to see what can be accomplished
Desiree with the Schools
Kathy & Desiree have been communicating
Piggy Form revised direct to the gogreen website
Form for Sign up
-Explains program & process
-Benefits
Possibly get wireless computer for sign ups on the spot
User friendly
Desiree went to PTA meeting & spoke to the president
-Explained program
-Will bring it to the PTA’s attention
-Have a joined PTA informational meeting
-Bring in bills, info, and sign up on the spot
List of organizations that can be targeted
-Lion’s Club, etc.
Junior Commissioners
-Have them come up with promotional material
-Power Point
-Visual & Emotional connection
Spreadsheet of upcoming events
- Earth Day – 4/24/10
- Budget Referendum – 4/27/10
- Duck Race – 5/29/10
- Household Hazardous Waste Day – 5/22/10
**Advertise to bring utility bills
**Newtown Bee article with dates & information
**Show difference in bills visually
**Promotional Banner for table @ events: Ted Kreinik motioned to
spend up to $150 on a banner for commission which can be used for
multiple purposes (All in favor)
- Stout Invoice & check funds
- Website
Contact Dave Stout to see if he can update important information
Earth Day Event
Links for Sign Up
Picture of Reed School with panels
Class project through the schools
Maintain website
Link with the Town of Newtown
High School students
- Sub-Committee to explore grant opportunities specifically energy audit piece
Meeting before next meeting
Dan Holmes, Ben Roberts & Jim Smith
(3) Grants from stimulus money
1. LED’s
2. Study on Natural Gas to convert town fleet
3. Consultant for energy conservation for the town
- Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement : 12 Step Program
Pat Llodra possibly to sign on Earth Day
Get municipalities to agree to certain conservation measures
- Volunteers needed for Earth Day
- Men in Green
(6) 8th Grade boys
Affects of deforestation and the importance of planting trees
Next Meeting Date:
- The Sustainable Energy Commission will meet again on, May 20, 2010 @ 7:30pm in the shared meeting room next to the First Selectman’s Office.
Sustainable Energy Commission meeting was adjourned at 9:15pm by
Chairperson, Daniel Holmes.
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