February 5, 2008
Start time: 7:10 PM End Time: 10:20 PM
Members Present: Chris Gueymard, E. H. Roy, Lenny Martell, Bob Soucy, Pierre Miron, David Belanger, Danielle Ruelland, Julie Moran. Guest: Rick Tillotson
J. Moran handed out member contact list to all present. Members not present may ask for it by email.
Next Meetings: Tues, 3/4/08 7:00 PM KHEOPs International, Town Meeting Tues, 3/11/08.
Progress: Petitions to ask that the state-supported “taxation neutral” principle for solar and wind energy systems be adopted by the town of Colebrook have been prepared by Bob Soucy. They have been distributed to voters by Bob, Lenny, Julie and Chris. These signed petitions were later turned in to Town Hall by the deadline date. They now appear as Articles 20 and 21 on the Town Warrant, to be acted upon during the annual Town Meeting, March 11.
Town Report prepared and turned in for Town Meeting by J. Moran (Attachment 5.1)
PS of NH Energy Audit booklets delivered to Colebrook and Stewartstown Public Libraries
NH Saves booklets delivered to Colebrook Library for circulation
Contact with Dick Harris at Balsam’s Green Team: Fall Expo—they will invite us to help, contribute, display, and enlist vendors, speakers, etc.
1st Energy Article and PAYT article published in 3 newspapers (photocopy in files).
2nd Energy article in progress.
PAYT article was rebutted, and an editorial rebuttal to that is in progress (copies filed)
Materials Assembled: Articles on Recycled Plastics and their catagories (B. Soucy - links listed below). Links for Recycling Computers (C. Gueymard - links listed below)
Donation: From KHEOPS International, a beautiful book: 365 Ways to Save the Earth. This is an inspirational book with daily ideas to help the environment, plus nature pictures of exceptional quality. Thank you to Marie-Josee Vaillant! It was proposed to extract some excerpts from the book, and make regular Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) from the Colebrook EEC on the local cable channel.
Schools: J. Moran met with Cheryl Covill and Bob Mills, SAU7 (School Administrative Unit 7) to check out their Energy needs and share 2 Recycling Projects that might be of interest.
Energy Issues: Last year: SAU7 replaced windows and siding (with insulation) on superintendent bldg. Both schools: Efficient water boilers for heating systems have been installed. C Covill expressed interest to do Energy Audit in April for next year’s budget.
Recycling Projects: Both C Covill and B Mills were really excited about Book Recycling program from North Reading, Mass. They were also eager to establish a year-round Recycling Program through the NRRA (Northeast Resource Recycling Association), and will contact leaders and Key Club about that idea. J Moran offered EEC assistance with the organization of such a project. Materials were left with them on both Recycling Programs.
Web Presence: EEC Minutes have been submitted to the Town of Colebrook website, but must be reformatted to post well. We will ask the webmaster to assign the EEC a committee email to be put on the town website for contacting the committee.
New Discussions:
New Meeting time: 2nd Tuesday of the Month. (1st Tuesday conflicted with other meetings) (Exception is the next meeting in March. EEC will be Mar 4; Town Meeting is Mar 11.)
Groveton Biomass District Heating Project: J. Moran gave a verbal report of the Feasibility Study being conducted in Groveton. This is a very interesting project that could possibly fit into the center of downtown Colebrook. (Attachment 5.2).
Grants available for projects: Donna Caron would like us to apply for $2500 for Hazardous Waste Day. A NH Grassroots fund would likely be a good source for this. Last year, the Town did not have the funds to participate in this.
Possible Fundraiser for composting program—we can’t take this on.
Discussion opened about starting a campaign to write to the Power Companies requesting incentives and rebates for home-produced energy from renewable sources.
L Martell said that current incentives will pay up to $3000 or 25% of the cost of putting wind or solar power into a home energy system. Net metering available, but power companies will not pay money for power generated by homes.
E.H. Roy is on the NH Energy Committee, and does contracting nationwide. He teaches for Solar Energy International (SEI) concerning hands-on workshops for PV and Solar HW. He is trying to get SEI conferences going in N.E. Vermont. See Conferences below.
E.H. Roy went to a Home Energy Conference in Manchester. He heard about Production-based incentives to keep system operating in Washington State and encourage energy efficiency over the long run and incentives to increase reimbursement if equipment is manufactured instate.
E.H. Roy: Solar Energy Technology, with all its current incentives, is getting close to a fast breakeven, rather than a lengthy payback time. The best “bang for your buck” is still buying Energy Efficient appliances, and practicing Energy Conservation
Rick Tillotson discussed the Noble Wind Energy Project extending from Dummer in the South to Dixville in the North. Their project covers lands owned or managed by GMO on the West side of the ridgeline and by Wagner Forest Management on the East side of the ridgeline. The Wagner lands abut Tillotson Corporation’s lands on Dixville Peak. The evaluation of its wind resources has been taking place on meteorological towers permitted by the Coos County Planning Board. The project is completing its Environmental Studies and may utilize 33 windmills (3-MegaWatt units), when completed.
R Tillotson also discussed the Balsams Resort’s plans for a model energy efficient room as a prototype for a major conservation effort for their Hampshire House building, whose un-insulated steel, clay tile and stucco construction was originally designed for summer use.
Ongoing Discussions:
Education of Public: News articles seem to be working. Discussed applying for Tillotson Fund to do more Education for Recycling and Energy Conservation and Efficiency.
Need for Assistance for Energy Conservation Projects: Not discussed this meeting~
Upcoming Local Conferences:
Grant Proposal Writing Workshop in Lancaster, Mar 1,8,15,22, Lancaster 10:30-2:30
SEI Conferences/workshops (E.H. Roy) March 22 - Introduction to Renewable Energy, May 12-17 - PV Design and Installation Workshop for contractors ($950), Northwoods Stewardship Center, E. Charleston, VT, www.northwoodscenter.org, SEI (http://www.solarenergy.org/) offers workshops-if you do the marketing
References:
J. Moran: Project Orange Thumb Grants for gardens and sustainable agriculture: www.fiskars.com
Northeast Resource Recovery Association, Education and Networking: www.nrra.net
Actions:
Change Town Report to reflect change in meeting night to 2nd Tuesday of the month
Submit corrected Minutes of meetings to Town’s Webmaster
Look for Grants for educational materials and programs
Check out Grassroots.com for funding for Hazardous Waste Day for Town
Request PSA’s for conservation tips to go onto local cable TV
Write to power companies to ask for incentives for homeowners installing renewable energy
Continue gathering Energy Conservation and Efficiency materials for distribution to libraries
Continue gathering Recycling information for distribution to libraries
Continue with school Recycling Projects
Continue Energy and Recycling articles for News publication
J. Moran asked for editing of PAYT editorial rebuttal article to be submitted from EEC
Send in Report of Recycling Center Tour.
Respectfully Submitted,
Julie Moran
Attachment 5.1: Town Report
Energy & Environment Committee
The “EEC” was formed as a volunteer steering committee for the Town of Colebrook, by a vote on a Warrant Article at the March 2007 Town meeting. The Warrant Article was brought to the agenda by Emily and Bruce Katz to promote the conservation of energy and preservation of the environment. The committee has met 4 times since May 2008, and now has regularly scheduled evening meetings on the first Tuesday of every month. Approximately 14 volunteers are currently involved and maintain contact via email, phone, and the minutes of the meetings, which are going to be posted on the town website.
Vision: Making practical solutions that save money and the environment.
Mission: To provide information for residents and businesses to become “greener” and save money.
Energy Initiatives being considered or in progress:
Conducting Energy Audits with local utilities for town buildings, residents, businesses
Applying for grant funding to assist with upgrading to alternative energy sources
Investigating tax rebate programs for installation of renewable energy sources
Researching alternative energy technologies for use in near future
Obtaining and assembling informational resources for public use
Joining efforts with The BALSAMS Greenpath Expo in Fall of 2008
Publishing articles on Energy Conservation and Efficiency
Environmental Issues being addressed:
Fact-finding missions: Recycling Centers and Waste Management
Regular publication of recycling articles in conjunction with Transfer Station
Obtaining and assembling informational resources for public use
Grant and Funding searches and applications for special projects
Formulating Recycling Projects to promote recycling locally
Committee member contact information is available in the minutes.
Respectfully Submitted:
Julie Moran
Attachment 5.2: Groveton District Heating Project
Groveton District Heat Project Feasibility Study 7 pp of notes distributed at meeting are on file with J Moran for the EEC.
Morris Pierce - Contact for the Projects, Univ Rochester, NY, at the Center of Utilities & Energy Management, 585-275-4331, mapi@mail.rochester.edu
Major Points:
We import all our energy fuel - most of that money goes overseas, or at least out of here- If we increase how much money we keep here for heating, we’d be fueling our own economy and control our own energy future.
We can decrease the cost of heat and provide heat for the poor, while keeping money in community.
Low Cost heat will attract businesses
The System:
Low temp hot water heating - under 200 F.
30% efficiency of electric plant
90% efficiency if use the heat byproduct to heat and cool the district
Forest residue plant - 3 in NH and many in VT.
Solar Arrays for overflow or plant shut down
Piping is insulated - can go in sidewalks
Can install fiberoptics simultaneously as piping for not extra digging cost
Energy transfer stations, every bldg has a meter
70F differential will be what gives the energy to do this
Will need to convet all houses - worst ones will be electric heat on concrete slab - no space for piping - Forced Hot Air isn’t bad; just change the boiler element.
Feasibility Study is being done to check out cost of start up & operation. It will take 2 ½ months to do the figures.
In Denmark - 60% of heating is district heating, often in villages. Many are isolated communities. 30% of their energy comes from Solar District Heating. China and South Korea are developing district heating at 15-20% growth annually.
Scope of the Study
Heat Demand - to determine this
Technical Aspects - production, piping, buildings to retrofit
Future development and expansion plans
Pipe routing
Financing Options
Data Collection - mapping, tax maps, utility maps, road plans, arial photo, other
Heat Wards - determine bldg use - residential/business/shop, current heat demand, size of bldgs, existing heating systems, fuel, all info to determine heat demand.
Heat Production Technologies - Heat production based on biomass, baseload, back up capacities and other fuels for really cold days. Denmark - went from oil to coal to gas to biomass to Solar, and may eventually go to fuel cell technology.
Network Design of pipes & connections is done by computer. Routing, pumps, branches, Temp, pressure requirements. Also monitored by computer in plant - detects water leaks within 5’ of leak.
Use steel pipes (200F+), or plastic (under 200F) and polyurethane insulation. Copper wire sensors.
Planning Phases - Installation, emissions, noise and disruption of construction to the town functioning.
Report in 11-12 weeks. .
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