Link back to Energy Committee Meeting Minutes page
Pam, Brian, John, Russ (chair), Rob (secretary).
Meeting called to order, we have a quorum.
Agenda:
1) Approval of meeting minutes from June 12 (Rob include Brian's comments in email).
2) Selectman are looking for recommendations.
Approved June 12, 2007 minutes (Rob post and make official on web site).
John and Brian discussing how to fund green projects using rebates or zero interest loans. Pay into statewide MTC, or keep the fund local to Hingham?
Russ: Any additional feed back from the Selectman, Brian?
Brian: I don't have my notes with me. Laura Burns has the rationalization concept of us buying into Hull's windmills. Buying a wind farm in Maine?
Russ: to make a significant statement, we would buy power from a green source like a wind farm.
Brian: one of our goals is to maintain our 12% of green power with our community growing still.
Russ: do we want to amend our recommendations? Selectman are looking for a written set of proposals, so they can put it on their agenda. Do we have consensus on our proposals?
Pam: (to Brian) did the Selectman want to change anything we presented to them in June?
Russ: they want a document they can use to set a working agenda. We recommend X be done in Y time frame. And a full short term list. We want to recommend a carbon footprint study, done by a consultant, cost will be between 30 and $35K.
Pam: did you read the stuff I sent from ICLEI about the outline of what it takes to do a carbon footprint study. Normally an 8 to 10 week process. Our committee doesn't have the time or expertise to do this. We would need someone from the Selectman here when we talk about the study.
Russ: Mellisa Tully will be our contact with the board.
Pam: I recommend we join ICLEI, its only $600.
Short term recommendations:
1) Join ICLEI for $600.
2) Replace diesel with bio diesel in fleet.
3) Increase fuel economy by 50% in town fleet.
4) Interview and hire carbon footprint consultant to do study. Bring them in to the next meetings. Cost will be in the $30K to $35K range.
5) Immediately begin study of green energy financial incentive programs.
6) Explore energy certification/certifiable standards (such as LEED) building program for municipal buildings and private developers.
7) Recommend the HMLP immediately consider the feasibility of adopting a policy to maintain current level (12%) or better of renewable energy in its total energy portfolio.
Short term action:
1) Write articles in Journal/Ledger/flyer's with HMLP bills about our progress.
2) Establish liaison with long range waste disposal committee. In order to align common goals and percentage of recycling.
Long term recommendations:
1) Adopt carbon footprint reduction program.
2) Adopt long term power policy. Solar, etc.
3) Explore increasing recycling by 2X current levels (see Russ's document).
Russ: do we have to adhere to a formal selection process to acquire these services?
John: yes, town needs an RFP. I (HMLP) can hire the contractors directly without RFP.
Russ: we need to do interviews of consultants ASAP, and figure out how to hire them. Then we need to get in front of the town to say what we are doing (Mellisa Tully will want us to do this). Perhaps present at the state of the town forum.
John: we will get coverage at the town forum. Getting PR/news coverage of what we are doing will help with getting the word out to the town.
Russ: when is the state of the town forum?
John: November usually, I think it was January last year.
Russ: we should get an article in the Journal/Ledger about what our goals are, and have ongoing articles on each of the items. I will write the first article.
Pam: we need to talk about how the PR vehicle works. How do we sell the green projects that don't have a money savings, but reduce carbon footprint?
John: we can balance these things with other projects that will save money and energy.
Russ: so we are agreed on the short term recommendations? I'm concerned that we missed the time window for goal setting. If we can agree to this, then I can submit this directly to them.
Russ: lets vote on short term. Motion made, voted, unanimous.
Actions:
Pam: contact ICLIE to come for presentation at next meeting
Russ: draft recommendations to Mellisa, have her come to the next meeting.
Russ's wife: write PR article.
John: source 1, get consultant for carbon footprint to come to next meeting.
Brian: send rob minutes from selectman presentation from June.
Rob: send notes to everyone.
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Next meeting: Thursday Oct. 4 at 7:30pm.