Town of Wethersfield
Clean Energy Committee
MINUTES (Approved)
April 9, 2008
Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center, Wethersfield, CT

Present: Michael DiCioccio, Joseph Hickey, Virginia Judson and Judy Parker. Also present: Pasquale Iudiciana, Emily and Christopher Shepard. Absent: Chris Novak.

Called to order at 4:20 p.m.

1. Joe moved to approve the 3/12/08 meeting minutes. Judy seconded. Approved unanimously.
2. No public comments.
3. Old business:
   1. Conservation strategies - Christopher has attempted to contact Bill Leahy, Mike Turner and Fred Bushey to determine status of benchmarking analyses. He will try one more time by April 11 and then refer to Ginny.

      Christopher resubmitted request for historical usage data from CL&P for Town buildings April 7 and expects to receive it by April 21. He will ask the Board of Education for similar data for its buildings.

   2. Clean energy purchase - Christopher reported that Community Energy provided a corrected contract based on feedback from the committee and Town Manager, but the contract was not put on the April 7 Town Council agenda as expected. He has asked the Town Manager to confirm whether it will be on the April 21 or May 5 agenda.

      Ginny will speak in support of the $10,000 allocation in the 2008-2009 budget at the budget hearing on April 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Silas Deane Middle School auditorium.

   3. Earned clean energy - Christopher reported Aztech Engineering provided the site assessment report to the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund but has not been able to confirm when the Fund will release it. He will follow up by April 11 and then refer to Ginny.

      Ginny reported the number of sign-ups fell slightly to 164.5. She will confirm with SmartPower that this is accurate and ask other Town task forces how they are addressing any declines.

   4. Connecticut clean energy options program (mini-grants) - Christopher received two inquiries but no grant applications, and Judy volunteered to follow up on the inquiries.

      Discussion followed of possible opportunities to encourage sign-ups and potential grantees: e.g. the Chamber of Commerce, elementary school end-of-year fairs, a light bulb show, providing compact fluorescent light bulbs as a premium for those who sign-up.

      Joe recommended the Town Council urge State officials to work with other States to do clean energy projects where they make the most sense and can have larger impact rather than small community level efforts.

   5. Publicity and outreach - Joe moved to have Christopher and Michael post the edited announcement on Wethersfield Community Television. Judy seconded. Approved unanimously.

      Joe left at 5:25 p.m.

      Christopher reported notes from the Green Summit are forthcoming and the Town Council introduced a proposal to create an Energy Conservation Commission. He also provided information about this committee to the two Green Summit participants who requested it but received no reply. Ginny will follow up.

      Christopher reported Ginny, Michael and Councilor Matthew Forrest attended the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund's awards ceremony, and he announced Wethersfield's award during public comments at the April 7 Town Council meeting. He will issue a local press release.

4. New Business
   1. Ginny proposed creating a Wethersfield-specific clean energy options sign-up form and provided a draft. All members are asked to send feedback to her or Christopher as soon as possible.
   2. Ginny read Chris' email reporting on the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control's renewal of the Connecticut Clean Energy Options Program. DPUC opened the program to renewable energy supplies outside the northeast, plans to notify selected bidders by late April, and expects the effective date to be July 1.

Judy moved to adjourned. Michael seconded. Approved unanimously. Adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Next meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 4:00 p.m., at the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center, 156 Prospect Street, Wethersfield, CT.

Respectfully submitted,

Christopher Shepard