Renewable Energy Working Group Meeting Minutes 1/19/22

Minutes of Monterey Renewable Energy Working Group

Meeting at Monterey Community Center, 1/19/2022

(Approved 1/31/2022)

Present:

Susan Bronson

Rob Hoogs
Peter Murkett

Shawn Tryon

Attending remotely:

Chris Erickson

Peter Grealish

Don Coburn (attended briefly)

Absent:

Chris Aidun

Raya Ariella

Kenn Basler

Mark Little

Dennis Lynch

Paul DePreter

John Prusinski

John Sellew

Matt Vella

Cliff Weiss

 Chair Peter Murkett called the meeting to order just after 6:30 pm.

There was a brief general discussion of goals, and consensus that we should focus first on the less complex projects, such as rooftop solar panels on town buildings. Group membership was also discussed, and Rob Hoogs indicated his willingness to be appointed an official voting member, bringing that number to four, including Peter Murkett, Peter Grealish, and Chris Aidun. Seven remains the goal.

Once glitches with remote attendance were resolved, Larry Gould joined the meeting. Larry was a key member of the committee that led planning, funding, and construction of the Otis municipal wind turbine. He is the current operations manager of the turbine, which has a 1500 kW capacity, and has generated nearly 12.5 million kWh of carbon-free electricity since it was commissioned in 2018. The town chose not to be designated a Green Community. It funded the turbine project through federal and state grants, starting with a $50K feasibility study from the state (including 5% town funds approved by town meeting), followed by a $400K development grant from the state (also with 5% town funds) for siting, planning, etc. The bulk of the $6 million cost came from a federal Clean Renewable Energy Bond (“CREBond"). The CREBond substantially reduces interest on the loan. The loan is being paid off with revenue from sale of the power, which also pays the cost of operating the turbine; revenue in excess of costs is being saved for future operation, maintenance costs, contingencies, etc.

As part of the years-long effort, Otis Town Meeting voted to adopt legislation to form a Municipal Light and Power (MLP) public entity, which operates the turbine, and also has contracted for the town’s fiberoptic installation and operation.

Larry also mentioned that Otis has installed solar panels on the roofs of its municipal buildings as a separate project. For net metering of such renewable energy projects, Larry stressed how important it is to be close to existing 3ø electric power. The cost of installing new 3ø lines is about $1 million per mile.

The Otis Turbine project overcame sharp opposition predicated on environmental and health concerns that have proved groundless. Nearly four years of continuous turbine operation has had no negative consequences, and it has never been the object of a complaint. In the face of controversy, Larry emphasized that town meeting voters trust familiar townspeople more readily than outside experts.

Our thanks to Larry Gould for his generosity in sharing a wealth of information and experience. The Otis project is an inspiration.

Following this presentation, the Group discussed potential large-scale renewable energy projects in Monterey. A 2014 map of potential sites in Berkshire County (by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Climate and Energy, Sustainable Berkshire Long-Range Plan) includes water power at the dam on Lake Garfield and a wind turbine on high ground near the Tyringham border. There was consensus that a large photovoltaic array has better prospects than water and wind in Monterey, for various reasons. As noted above, it will be important to site such an array in close proximity to existing 3ø power lines.

The old landfill and gravel bed adjacent to the Highway Department garage has seemed a likely site, but Rob Hoogs noted that Gould Farm considered the working face of the existing gravel bed land for a solar array, but found that its north-sloping configuration was problematic. A good deal of Gould Farm’s land is protected by Agricultural Preservation Restrictions which may limit use of their property for large scale photo-voltaic installation. Shawn Tryon mentioned that the old town landfill has not been “closed” with final cover, and that would have to be done before that site could be used for a solar array.

Other potential ideas for locations of a PV array were briefly discussed and will be fleshed out in future meetings. Discussion of the locations of existing 3ø power followed; Peter Grealish said he may be able to get us a National Grid map with that information. Shawn Tryon agreed to lead a subgroup focused on a large-scale PV array. 

Draft minutes of the 12/20/2021 meeting were approved, and we adjourned about 8 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Peter Murkett, Chair