Renewable Energy Working Group Meeting Minutes 12/20/21

Meeting date: 
Monday, December 20, 2021

Minutes of Monterey Renewable Energy Working Group

Meeting at Monterey Community Center, 12/20/2021

Attending in person:

Chris Aidun

Kenn Basler

Peter Grealish

Dennis Lynch

Peter Murkett

Paul DePreter

John Sellew

Matt Vella

Cliff Weiss

 

Attending remotely:

Raya Ariella

Rob Hoogs

John Prusinski

 

Absent:

Susan Bronson

Chris Erickson

Mark Little

Shawn Tryon

Chair Peter Murkett called the meeting to order at 6:40 pm.

He spoke briefly in a general way about individual and collective efforts to address climate change, and noted the generosity of the late Edith Wilson, whose former home has become the Monterey community Center, where we meet.

He then introduced Larry Dwyer of the Sandisfield Green Committee, who outlined the four-year-long process by which that town has qualified for a Green Communities Designation Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. The process involves a town energy audit, measures to conserve energy and increase efficiency, and planning for the installation this year of solar arrays on the roofs of town buildings. Energy generation will be net metered through Eversource, the utility serving Sandisfield.

Discussion followed. Monterey’s energy audit by Emily Lang of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is near completion. There was consensus that Peter Murkett, as the appointed member, should consult with Town Administrator Melissa Noe and seek a meeting with Ms. Lang. Kenn Basler suggested we consult with the Select Board regarding responsibility for pursuing that program, and Peter Murkett suggested waiting until we have a clearer picture of Green Community requirements and benefits. John Prusinki suggested inviting Mark Rabinsky to meet with us. Mark is regional coordinator for the DOER, which oversees the Green Communities initiative.

There was discussion of grant funds available under the American Rescue Plan Act, and whether a consultant paid to draw up a comprehensive town carbon reduction plan might qualify. Dennis Lynch will follow up.

Wide-ranging comments on the Group’s mission, strategy, and potential projects followed. An outline offered by Peter Murkett (attached below) included projects beyond municipal renewable energy infrastructure, such as electric vehicle charging stations to reduce transportation carbon footprint, and solar panels on affordable housing projects. Rob Hoogs suggested it would be best to narrow our focus, initially aiming for solar panels on town buildings. Peter noted that the Select Board’s wording of our mission is “researching the potential for renewable energy projects in all aspects (cost, funding, and maintenance; environmental, economic and aesthetic impact, etc.) and reporting back to the Select Board.”

Minutes of the REWG meeting on 12/14/21 were read and approved.

Meeting adjourned about 8:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Peter Murkett