The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCS CEC 2024-06-11Climate Smart/Clean Energy Community Task Force Minutes of the Meeting at 5:00 pm Tuesday June 11, 2024 Via Zoom (link below) Attendance: Task Force members: Marie McRae, Jack Wright, Christina Dravis, Ray Burger, Anne Clark, Joe Wilson (arrived at 6 pm), and Alice Green, Chair; Excused: John Kiefer, Hunter Barlow, Mckenna Crocker, Tom Sinclair; CCE Clean Energy Community Coordinator: Chris Skawski; Guests: Evan Kurtz, prospective new task force member, and Nicholas Amodeo, Binghamton CEC intern; two members of the public who were removed after making inappropriate comments and noises. Call to Order at 5:04 pm / Introductions May Minutes Christina moved for approval; Marie seconded. Vote was unanimous. Additions to the agenda: Discussion of options for grants in the pipeline Clean Energy Community Actions Review Progress Report: 1) Alice Reported on approval of submissions for 7000 CEC points and $175K grant eligibility – • Successful Clean Heat and Cooling Campaign approved (600 points and $10K grant) • CSC Bronze Re-certification approved by CSC (to be sent for CEC approval for 800 points) • Municipal Fleet inventory (approved for 200 points) • Site Nomination to Build-Ready (approved for 100 points) 2) Discussion of options for spending the grants to reduce GHG emissions from municipal operations. Chris explained that the newest round of the Clean Energy Communities program expands the options for municipalities to use grants. See this link to CEC 3.0 guidance: https://portal.nyserda.ny.gov/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=00P8z000003WZ9nEAG Dryden has already completed 19, of the possible actions. Link to NYSERDA scoreboard and list completed actions: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Clean-Energy-Communities/Tracking- Progress/Scorecard The task force discussed possible grant spending options including: • Purchasing electric equipment and EV’s to replace fossil fueled vehicles in the town. Anne suggested that we look at the newly completed fleet inventory to determine which consume the most fuel and which could be replaced by electric vehicles. She added that more EV’s will require more charging station capability at the Highway Barn. • Funding energy upgrade audits at local fire stations through NYSERDA’s Flex Tech Program. This is one of the only programs that allows municipalities to spend on non-municipally owned property. But getting on the Flex Tech schedule couldn’t wait till the end of the 3-month window to propose grant projects. Flex Tech would provide the studies, not funding to do the construction. The studies could, however, provide the data needed to qualify stations for other state funding to make the energy upgrades. Chris has worked with Fire Services Coordinator Chris O’Connor to explore this option. It was emphasized that it will be important to reach out to individual stations to gauge their interest. Christina invited Chris to attend the June 18 meeting of the Varna Fire Department for a discussion of how Flex Tech might work. Chris said he could take the lead on this. 3) Low bid of $91.8K received from Tom Lobdell Construction for the DPW Office envelop sealing project-Ray, Alice This is the lowest after 3 rounds of RFP’s. Original estimate for the job a year ago was $70K for the exterior sealing and the town got a low bid of $29,800 for heat pump installation. After the energy study and plan preparation, there is still more than $92K in grant funding for this project. Ray noted that our request to use the $10K grant from the successful Clean Heat and Cooling Campaign towards this project was turned down. Therefore, that grant can be combined with the expected $175K for other energy saving town actions. 4) Build Ready Program/ NYSERDA interview Alice and Chris reported that they were among various Dryden stakeholders invited to give feedback to representatives of the NYSERDA Build Ready Program. The agency is seeking ideas about a possible benefit to the town that would be the responsibility of a developer chosen to develop the Caswell Rd. former landfill site as a solar farm and battery storage facility. They said the benefit contribution could be $200K or more. Alice suggested four possible town initiatives: the Dryden Fiber Broadband Project, the Dryden Rail Trail, Climate Smart task force work on energy upgrades for fire stations, and development of recreational fields and facilities behind town hall, possibly along with a small solar farm and/or affordable housing. Anne reported that the conservation board has been discussing the wetland delineation study of the 87 acres behind town hall. She cautioned that it is sensitive area, and there may be much less developable land there than expected. The Town has issued an RFP for a consultant to study possible uses of the acres. Climate Smart Community Actions Review Dryden’s Bronze Recertification will be announced publicly by DEC later this month We can send PR and pics to highlight Dryden accomplishments Dryden Climate Change and Resilience Plan (CCARP) – Jerry, Alice Plan has been distributed to town, village, DCSD, and fire and emergency management stakeholders for suggestions and comments. When feedback is incorporated, the final plan will go to the Town Board for acceptance. Municipal Fleet Inventory has been completed, thanks to the work of DPW Deputy Mike Hall and Chris Skawski. This can be submitted to CSC for points towards Silver certification after CEC approval has been received. Municipal GHG Emissions Inventory- Will be updated this summer Updates on other Town and Inter-municipal Efforts DHS Student Report- Mckenna & Hunter. Both reps were excused. Dryden Town Board Report- Christina Not too much on the Town Board agenda this past month, but the town is expected to have a new planner on board soon. Ray added that the Town has hired Gina Cassidy, formerly the CCE Clean Energy Coordinator, and more recently a Cortland County Planner. He said she will be starting next week. Conservation Board Report – Anne The Conservation Board has been asked to review zoning and subdivision laws to evaluate their consisitency with the town’s comprehensive plan and other plans. They are particularly concerned with protecting wetland habitat, river banks and river buffers. They talked about more explicit ways the town can be ready in the event of climate change related disasters, including the need for transportation systems if people needed to get to displacement centers, a wish list for agricultural practices, reducing lawn sizes, considering parking lots as site for solar installations, and right sizing public lighting. Joe commented that the use of parking lots for solar sites shold be considered in the zoning re-write. Affordable Housing Task Force – Ray The main thrust of the last meeting was to work on the RFP that will be issued for a consultant to study options for developing the acreage behind Town Hall. Ray said he’s been working with Ben Carver who’s the INHS mobile home special and wants to tie them in with the CCE Energy hub. Alice reported on another INHS program that offers home improvement help for low and middle income families that might not be covered in energy conservation incentive programs, like roof replacement and handicap accessibility infrastructure. Jack said he believes that his team at CCE is aware of this resource Village of Dryden CSC Task Force – Tom Update on County Proposal for EV Charging Station Collaboration? Report postponed because Tom was excused due to illness. Announcements: Joe shared that he participated in an event on sustainability at his college reunion. He showed a musical video produced several years ago about Dryden’s battle to ban fracking, as an example of local policies and how they can promote sustainability. He will send the link to task force members. Adjournment at 6:28 pm Respectfully submitted, Alice Walsh Green Recurring Meeting Link: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84683569959?pwd=YldTOUFDRWF3b29jNDhsU0Q4VW5pUT09 Meeting ID: 846 8356 9959 Passcode: 259422