Minutes from Energy Committee meeting - Sept 28, 2023 (The EC met via Zoom at 5:00 PM.) In attendance: Carl, Tim, and Carol Absent: Jim, Jen Carl called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM. Tim moved to approve the minutes from Aug 14, 2023. Carol seconded. All approved. Follow up/ Reports: Electric Drive-in: The event was held on Sat., Sept 23rd, despite the fact that no one from the Energy Committee was present, except Carl, who had Covid and couldn’t interact with folks. Six members of Earth Matters, who co-sponsored the Drive-in, stepped up and ran the EV event. Brian Van Horn went to the rec park at 7:00 AM on Saturday to block off the parking spaces for the EVs and put up signs for the event when he learned Carl was not well. The event went well. Almost every EV that is available for sale in VT was on display, and several people who attended will likely follow through and buy an EV. As a Thank You to Brian and five of the six Earth Matters members (all except Chris Anderson) who stepped up and ran the event, Carl purchased $25 gift certificates to the Northshire Bookstore. Tim made a motion to reimburse the expense from the $500 allocated by the Select Board to the Energy Committee, if there are sufficient funds still available. Carol seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. E-mower Demo for Commercial landscapers: On a rainy Wednesday, Sept 13th, Dan Mackey from GMP along with a representative from Greenworks demoed an e-mower to several local groundskeepers and private landscapers. Everyone who tried out the mower was impressed; eight attendees expressed an interest in following up. Unfinished business: Window Dressers: the unloading happened today, and the actual Community Build starts Friday, Sept 29th through Wed., Oct 4th. The build may end earlier if all the inserts are completed. There are fewer inserts than last year, so there may not be a need for the full 6 days. Solar Tour: Carl contacted Bill Laberge about what format might work best: visiting several installations, or staying at one location. To date, Bill has not responded. Carl will follow up with Danielle Laberge. No date was set, but this most likely won’t happen until next year. New members: We are looking for two new members for the EC. Everyone on the committee will think of potential folks to join and ask them to go on the town website to apply. New business: Letter of endorsement for MERP: Gordon Black, on behalf of the town, has applied to the Dept of Buildings and General Services (BGS) for a Level 2 energy audit for both the town hall and the Public Safety Building. Scott Murphy would like the Energy Committee to write a letter in support of that application. Carl will draft the letter, get feedback from EC members, and send it along to Scott. It would be helpful to have data from both buildings about energy usage (oil, propane, electricity costs/use) but the EC can send along a generic letter of endorsement in the meantime. “Empower VT” event at SVAC: On Sunday, Oct 1st, Bill McKibben and Thomas Hand will be the keynote speakers at an event sponsored by Earth Matters/350VT that will explain what Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are and what they should be like in the future. The Renewable Energy Standard (RES) sets goals for what percent of Vermont’s electricity should come from solar, wind, and other renewables. The RES currently has a goal of 10% from in-state renewable sources, but VT can’t meet the Global Warming Solutions Act goals unless that is increased. The event at SVAC is free, open to the public, and runs from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Arkell Pavilion. The next EC meeting is scheduled for Thurs, Oct 19th at 5:00 PM, at the town hall. At 5:30 PM, a motion to adjourn was made by Tim, seconded by Carol, and passed unanimously.