Town of Wethersfield
Clean Energy Committee
MINUTES (Approved)
September 12, 2007
Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center, Wethersfield, CT
In attendance: Michael DiCioccio, Cindy Jacobs, Ginny Judson, and Judy Parker. Also in attendance: Christopher Shepard. Absent: Joe Hickey.
Ginny called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.
- Minutes: Judy moved to approve the June 20, 2007, meeting minutes; Michael seconded. Approved unanimously.
Judy moved to approve the August 15, 2007, meeting minutes; Cindy seconded. Approved unanimously.
Cindy moved to approve the August 27, 2007, meeting minutes; Ginny seconded. Approved with Judy and Michael abstaining.
- Public comments: None.
- Energy Conservation Strategies: Bill Leahy still awaiting data from Mike Turner.
- Connecticut Clean Energy Options Program: Ginny and Christopher, with volunteers from the Wethersfield Ecumenical Clean Energy group, will staff a booth at the Corn Fest to encourage sign-ups. Currently have 151 sign-ups. 200 and 286 are the next benchmarks for earning additional solar arrays.
- Renewable Energy Earned: Ginny reported that Bob Wall still is trying to schedule his consultant to do the site-visits.
- Renewable Energy Purchased: Michael Caron presented information about Sterling Planet's clean energy program, one of the clean energy suppliers available to the Town through its CL&P accounts. The company was founded in 2000-2001 and now consults on LEED construction, partners with 28 utilities nationwide, and brokers RECs.
In Connecticut they provide a $15 rebate per year through 2010 for each sign-up.
RECs come from 34% landfill natural gas in the mid-Atlantic and New England, 33% buy small scale local hydro, and 33% national wind.
Towns pay the same premium price for 100% or 50% of its electricity to come from Sterling Planet as the CL&P's residential customers.
- Community Innovations Grants Program: Discussed a second round of soliciting grant proposals with a submission deadline of November 5, pending confirmation of the Wethersfield Life's publication schedule. Christopher will implement.
- Publicity: None to report.
- New Business:
- Ginny attended a presentation to the Town Council regarding Energy Independence Districts - a new option for municipalities - and will distribute materials for discussion at a later date.
- Ginny distributed information about a new State Law that provides for grants to municipalities for electricity and energy efficiency projects and asked Christopher to share it with the Town's grant writer.
- Other Announcements:
- Michael spoke with the Town's Economic Development Coordinator, Peter Gillespie, about promoting Wethersfield as a place for "green" businesses and specifically solar power related companies.
- The Wethersfield High School PTSA's light bulb sale will be held September 20, 10:00 - 3:00 at the Pitkin Community Center and 5:30 - 9:00 at the High School.
Judy moved to adjourn; Michael seconded. Approved unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Next meeting: Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 4:15 p.m., Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher Shepard