2022/03/01
Nelson Community Power
March 1, 2022
Attendees
In-person
Patsy Beffa-Negrini
Lisa Sieverts
Gary Robinson
Jonathan Pfister
Zoom
Greg Rothman
Bill Waterston
Betsy Street
Rick Weyerhaeuser
Mare-Ann Jarvela
Absent
Sandy Mackenzie
Grand-daughter, Nell, born on Sunday!
Guests
None
Action Items
Patsy
Find out how to request the data on resident usage from Eversource
Edit and clean up the questions and send to the brokers in advance.
Share a PDF of the questions with the committee
MINUTES
Motion to approve the minutes of February 15, 2022, as sent by email on Feb. 1, Gary, and Rick seconds, all in favor
Check-in: How are we doing?
We still have uncertainty and feel like we are learning our way, very grateful for other towns, and grateful for the in-depth agendas for these meetings
PDFs vs Google Docs for sharing committee documents?
Some preference for PDF, not all committee members are comfortable with Google Docs
Plan for March 15 meeting with Standard Power and Good Energy (SP & GE)
Finalize questions to ask consultant/broker using Keene’s Consultant Scoring Sheet as a guide1. DRAFT Consultant Scoring Sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ucPQJTfetgHGWuFW1I5Gbv2j8ugekMVeulMrmN57rx8/edit?usp=sharing
We want to know for one thing, if Nelson is of large enough population to be of interest to them, and how will they service us compared to a larger town
We will also need Selection criteria for choosing a broker for electric purchase, do this later as we get closer to making that decision (in 2023)
Looking at Keene’s questions, we made edits directly in the document
Standard Power and Good Energy
Emily Manns, Bob Haydn will join us in two weeks, possibly another.
We don’t know if in person or via Zoom
Patsy will lead the asking of the questions, Lisa will take notes, and everyone should feel free to jump in and ask for clarification
Handout at Town Meeting?
Lisa and Betsy feel it’s too early and that it will just confuse people if it’s handed out at Town Meeting but there’s nothing to vote on. All in agreement
Other ideas for Outreach later this year:
Better to tap into the Artisan Fair and Old Home Day instead
Our survey will also be a form of outreach
Best to also plan on going door-to-door next February
Goal setting and vision
2. Goal and Vision working document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y74JQsmHZ3gkaIO9E-_lXYu8wZtkFFFD/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111544631100531111996&rtpof=true&sd=true
1 Provide greater choice for ratepayers, at a rate that is competitive with the default/base rate offered by Eversource,
2 Increase the percentage of renewable energy sources in the electricity mix,
3 Support local renewable energy production
4 Build a reserve fund to manage energy price shifts and to invest in local energy
Consider a goal around helping the Master Plan process to include Energy, which probably means creating a Nelson Energy Committee
Retrospective
Discussion of meeting in person vs. meeting in Zoom. We’re still not permitted to meet entirely in Zoom
Motion to adjourn at 3:50 PM by Rick, second Greg, all in favor
Next Meeting
Tuesday, March 15, 2:30 PM, to interview Standard Power/Good Energy
Useful Links
Google Group Email
mailto:nelsoncommunitypower@googlegroups.com
Using this email address will automatically send your message to everyone on the committee
Nelson Community Power Web Page
Consultants’ Web Pages