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09/06/2022 EC Minutes

TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
2155 Main Street
Bethlehem, NH 03574

Bethlehem Energy Commission

MINUTES from

Tuesday, Sept 6, 2022 Meeting at 5:30

Agenda

Introductions

Mission: The Bethlehem Energy Commission was established for the study and planning of energy resources for the town. The commission will evaluate existing energy usage in the town and suggest possible improvements in energy efficiency and conservation, as well as potential clean renewable energy solutions in order to reduce expenses and increase self-reliance.

Attending:  Scott Caisse (and Bryce Caisse), Mary Lou Krambeer, David Van Houten, Bruce Caplain, Dan Crosby plus Melissa Elander and Gabe Chilius of Clean Energy New Hampshire.

Excused:  Chuck Phillips

Minutes from August meeting, moved to accept David and second by Scott.  Unanimously accepted.

Public input – James Fitzpatrick from the Franconia Energy Comm attended the meeting.

Town solar project – BES solar panels, ground mount, going up this week.

Profile High School – David please add info here

Community Solar – How does this work?  Panels are located in one place and then group metered. There may be a way to set-up the panels so you own part of the array.  Research needed.

TO DO:  Melissa to research Community Solar Power logistics and financing

Village District – Dan and Bruce have been going to meetings and crunching numbers in preparation for a public meeting.  Dan is working with Barrington Power consultants to check his numbers.  Bruce suggested present this information in a simple table of low and high savings or a bar graph. Eventually the Commissioners will put together a warrant article.  The early estimated savings look significant.  Funding the installation would be a combination of grants and loans.  Next meeting:  Tuesday, Sept 13 at 5:45

TO DO:  Dan and Bruce will attend meeting

EV Ride & Drive – October 1:  1:00-4:00 at Bethlehem Library (drivers arrive at 12:45).

TO DO

Set-up at 12:30 by BEC members on Oct 1.

All:  reach out to EV owners. Create flyers (Melissa), post on Bethlehem Facebook, Bethlehem newsletter (Bruce), Bethlehem library electronic sign (Mary Lou).  Sandwich board if necessary (Mary Lou), reach out to Franconia folks (Fitz), reach out to Robert Blechl and Angel Larcom to write articles (promo and follow-up articles – Melissa?).  Dan — bring solar panel from school.  Pick up “Drive Electric” Clean Energy Flags and brochures (Gabe).

Town Hall energy audit – David exchanged email with contractor creating HVAC estimate.  Air sealing person is also coming up with estimate.  Fix front door and weatherstripping. Possibly address portico near police station and tighten it up.

Rambling Woods – Melissa met with two board members about doing a community solar project for the resident owned community (there are 29 lots).  Fred, president of the association, is collecting electric bills from a handful of folks.  They think it might be too ambitious to apply this year – TBD.  Last year the DOE/DES grant was released in December with a 3-week turn-around. Maximum grant was $175,000.  Also, residents are very interested in doing energy efficiency efforts.  Perhaps do a button-up workshop and find some grant dollars for improvement since the Tri-County CAP program has a 13 year waiting list.

To Do:  David ask Ted Vansant to take a look at the site to consider how it is metered.

Grafton County

To Do:  Wait until after the November 8 election.

Adjourned at: time

 

Upcoming Meetings

10/4

11/1

12/6

 

Bethlehem Energy Commission (BEC) is appointed by the Select Board. All meetings are open to the public.

 

Town of Bethlehem Selectboard Clerical Assistant Nicole McGrath ensures that BEC meeting notices, agendas, and minutes are posted as necessary.  Nicole posts a hard copy of meeting notices in the Town Hall and at the Post Office.

 

 

To find BEC info go to: www.bethlehemnh.org

-go to government tab

-our committee is listed under the: boards and committees tab

-our meetings are posted through Nicole on: agendas and minutes tab