Town of Newtown, CT 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT
THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COMMISSION
5-16-2013
The Sustainable Energy Commission held a regular meeting Thursday, May 16, 2013 in shared meeting room 3 of the Municipal Center located at 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT 06470.
The meeting was called to order by chairman, Kathy Quinn at 7:00 pm.
Present: Chairman, Kathy Quinn, Fred Hurley, Charlie Copp, Mark Sievel, Joseph Borst, Barbara Toomey
Absent: Desiree Galassi, Dan Holmes, James Gulalo
Communications:
Ms. Quinn stated that Earth Day went very well. There was a good turnout for the event.
Household Hazardous Waste Day is on May 18 at the Town Garage.
Acceptance of Minutes:
Mr. Borst made a motion to accept the minutes of the April 18, 2013 meeting minutes with the following correction in regards to the ESCO: the Board of Selectman and the Board of Finance offered their support to move forward with the project. Mr. Sievel seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
Old Business:
HES Program
Ms. Quinn is waiting for figures on the progress of the program. They are thinking about doing another postcard mailing to get the word out about the program.
There was a change in the rates for participation. If the home has oil heat it will cost $99 and if the home has electric or gas heat the cost will remain $75.
Solar Panels PPA / Brownfields
The solar panels have been installed on the Middle School. The system is waiting on CL&P’s inspection and approval before the system can begin producing energy.
In regards to the Reed School, the Z-REC program has started but the town is not ready to start the RFP process for the next project. The long – term future of the Reed School is also not certain and will depend upon the forecasted enrollment at the school.
There is a proposal in the state legislature right now regarding virtual net metering which would allow municipalities to be reimbursed for the generation and delivery of the power created. The brownfield sites in town would be a good location for this type of system.
Solarize CT Program / Ross Solar
Ms. Quinn received an email stating the state is looking to hire a Program Manager to coordinate the program which is a good sign that the program will be going forward.
Transition Movement
Ms. Toomey stated that Earth Day was a success. She is looking into scheduling another meeting in the near future.
The next possible movie that will be shown is Chasing Ice which a documentary with time lapse photos of glaciers around the world. The group is still determining where to show their next film.
Ms. Toomey is also working with a group that is working towards making Newtown a bike friendly town.
Go Green Website
No update at this time.
Energy Star Portfolio Manager
No update at this time.
ESCO
The Board of Finance had questions about the proposal but overall seemed favorably inclined support the project during the approval process. The presentation will next be given at the Legislative Council meeting on June 5. Ms. Quinn and the other members who gave / attended the previous presentations feel that this project is showing the town boards what the Sustainable Energy Commission is trying to accomplish.
The next steps involve getting a consensus and making a decision on whether or not to proceed after July 1 once the new budget is in place.
Municipal Energy Management Plan
An update will be given at the June meeting.
C-PACE
Liz Stocker, from Economic Development, is currently going through the project signoff process with this proposal. Ms. Quinn also mentioned there is some grant money available to help with presenting the program to local businesses if it is approved.
Grants
There will be an update at the June Meeting.
Presentation
David Plau, owner of Drink Water 2 Give Water, presented his new product to the Sustainable Energy Commission. Mr. Plau spoke of water security and the negative environmental impact that bottled water has on the environment. Mr. Plau’s product encourages a movement towards change, for consumers to stop drinking bottled water.
Mr. Plau’s product, a reusable filter water bottle, which has a carbon based filter that inhibits bacterial growth and filters out common water contaminants such as chlorine. The water bottle is made from a safe plastic that is meant to be used multiple times, that is dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe and is 100% made in the USA. Each bottle comes with a filter and a holder for the water bottle that will keep it cold. The bottle is designed to last forever and is recyclable.
Mr. Plau is looking at different opportunities in town to get his product out to the consumers. Some possibilities are fundraisers for schools, marching bands, and sports teams. He is bringing his product to universities to encourage students to use less plastic.
The bottle is an investment at $11 each when bought directly from Plau. The cost decreases if they are bought in bulk. Each filter gets about 350 uses or about 4 months. The replacement filters are $6.95.
Adjournment:
Mr. Borst made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 pm. The motion was seconded by Mr. Sievel. The motion was carried unanimously.
The next regular meeting will occur on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Newtown Municipal Center in Shared Meeting Room 3.
Submitted, Jessica Smith, clerk.
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