Renewable Energy Working Group Meeting Minutes 10/12/22

Minutes of the Monterey REWG 10/12/22
 

The Renewable Energy Working Group met on October 12, 2022, at Monterey Community Center, 468 Main Road, Monterey, MA 01245, and over Zoom.

Present in person: Peter Murkett
Present remotely: Chris Aidun, Peter Grealish, Rob Hoogs, John Prusinski
 

Agenda:

Review, submit ARPA application

META grant application update

UMass Extension update

Review/amend/approve minutes

Meeting called to order at 6:05

Drafts of the ARPA grant application requesting $15,000 to hire a consultant have been written and edited a few times already. Application is due Thursday, October 13, 2022. Peter Murkett will email it to them. Following discussion, changes approved with regard to UMass Clean Energy Extension working “in tandem” with professional consultants. A motion to accept the application as amended received unanimous approval.

Review of META grant details published by DOER indicated various possibilities for a good fit with our project, including the sections on Community Shared Solar (CSS) and demand reduction strategies via energy storage at public facilities. Deadline for submitting is November 18. Discussion of potential grant writers and a source of funding to pay for writing the application led to a motion that we consult with Dennis Lynch, Town Administrator Melissa Noe, Susan Bronson, and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (in that order).
the motion was approved unanimously.

The UMass Clean Energy Extension staff has assigned two students to work with Monterey. Chris and Peter M. will meet with them on Friday 10/14.

Chair moves that we schedule a meeting for next week (10/19) if grant writer can be identified by then. Will move location if MCC is not available. Motion seconded & approved.

After a brief review, draft minutes from 9/7/22 were approved unanimously.
 

Meeting Adjourned at 6:55 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

John Prusinski

Monterey Renewable Energy Working Group