Town of Wethersfield
Clean Energy Committee
MINUTES (Approved)
November 14, 2007
Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center, Wethersfield, CT

In attendance: Michael DiCiccio, Cindy Jacobs, Judy Parker, and Ginny Judson. Absent: Joe Hickey. Also in attendance: Carol Jones and Christopher Shepard.

Ginny called the meeting to order at 4:20 p.m.

1. Minutes: Judy moved to approve the October 10, 2007, meeting Minutes as presented. Cindy seconded. Approved unanimously.
2. Public comments: Carol Jones, Wethersfield resident, Professor of Chemistry at Central Connecticut State University, and a member of the Wethersfield Interfaith Green Committee.
3. Reports & Updates:
   1. Report to Town Council: Ginny summarized presentation made to the Town Council on October 15, 2007. Christopher will follow up with the Town Manager regarding signing up with Community Energy.

      Round II proposals may be solicited now, and Christopher will begin to publicize this by the end of the month.

   2. Community Innovations Grant Program: The Wethersfield Interfaith Green Committee completed its project. Christopher will follow up with the Finance Department to issue a check and with the committee to obtain a final report. Carol Jones reported that about 40 people attended the lecture, with Channel 8 covering it, and about 40 people attended the screening.

   Michael arrived at 4:55 pm.

   3. Publicity: Discussed the need to increase publicity. Christopher will do a press release highlighting the number of sign-ups to date and upcoming benchmarks.
   4. CT Clean Energy Options: 153.5 sign-ups as of November 7. Judy sought clarification on the benchmark for earning another PV array that's based on a percentage of households in Wethersfield. Christopher and Ginny will work on it.
   5. Energy Use Figures: Christopher submitted the Town's account numbers to CL&P to request energy use data.
   6. Renewable Energy Earned: Ginny will follow up with Bob Wall at the Connecticut Clean Energy Fun regarding scheduling the consultant's site visit for installing earned PV arrays.
   7. Energy Independence Districts: Ginny summarized presentation CCAT made to the Town Council's Infrastructure Committee. The committee recommended the Town take advantage of CCAT's free feasibility study.
   8. Energy Conservation: Cindy will focus on helping Bill Leahy connect with Fred Bushey to conduct walk throughs that follow up on the school benchmark analysis and will follow up with Mike Turner on Bill Leahy completing a benchmark analysis for Town buildings.
4. New Business
   • CL&P offers an "EESmarts" program that provides relevant professional development to grades K-8 teachers. Cindy will share information about this opportunity with the Wethersfield Superintendent of Schools.
   • The Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University offers relevant professional development, too, and one high school teacher has expressed interest in it. Cindy will encourage the Wethersfield High School Parent Teacher Student Association to promote the opportunity and support the teacher's participation in it.
5. Announcements:
   • DPUC is working on the next contract for clean energy providers available through CL&P. The RFP opens the possibility of more alternatives (docket #070109). The existing Community Energy and Sterling Planet contracts may be extended if needed.
   • PACE's annual meeting, "More Solutions to An Inconvenient Truth," will be held November 17, 2007, at the Unitarian Society of Hartford.
   • Central Connecticut State University will conduct a teach-in January 29-31, 2008, as part of the "Focus the Nation" events.

Judy moved to adjourn the meeting. Michael seconded. Approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Next meeting: Wednesday, January 9, 2007, 4:15 p.m., at the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center.

Respectfully submitted,

Christopher Shepard