HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS CEC 2024-07-09Climate Smart/Clean Energy Community Task Force Minutes of the Meeting at 5:00 pm Tuesday July 9, 2024 Via Zoom Attendance: Task Force members: Marie McRae, Jack Wright, Christina Dravis, Ray Burger, Anne Clark, Joe Wilson, John Kiefer, Evan Kurtz and Alice Green, Chair; Excused: Hunter Barlow, Mckenna Crocker; Gina Cassidy, Town Planner; Absent: Tom Sinclair; Jerry Sheng, CCE Climate Smart Coordinator 5:02 Call to Order/ Introductions Ray moved and Marie seconded approval of June Minutes No Additions to the agenda Clean Energy Community Actions Review 1) Discussion of options for projects that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Town of Dryden that can be funded by the expected $185K in grants earned through the CEC. Potential options include: • Energy upgrade studies at some or all of the town’s four fire stations, Dryden, Freeville, Varna and Etna (Depending on the level of study, each could cost $5K-$25K) • Replacement of a gas fueled pick up truck with an EV • Installation of additional EV charging capability at the Highway Barn • An energy study of the Highway Barn • Replacement of gas fueled landscaping equipment, like mowers and weed trimmers, with electric tools After some discussion, the task force recommended two subcommittees to study options: Fire station upgrades study committee: John, Evan, Jack and Christina Goals: • determine interest in the energy studies on the part of each fire company • make site visits to each facility and consider square footage, current fuel source and energy bill history, current condition of weatherization, etc. • recommend whether energy studies would be good use of town CEC grant funds DPW Fleet and Equipment electrification/Highway Barn energy study subcommittee: Evan, Gina, Alice Goals: • review fleet and equipment that could be switched from gas to electric, including a truck and landscaping equipment • Gina offered to reach out to other municipalities for feedback on their experience with switching to electric vehicles • consider what level of charging would make it feasible to operate the EV equipment • review highway barn factors as listed above, consider whether an energy upgrade study would be an effective use of grant 2) Report on DPW Office Energy Upgrade -Alice Contractor has begun preliminary work on envelope sealing and window replacement; an older door will also be replaced. Heat pump contractor, ACE of Groton, has been contacted to review their year-old bid and get the project on his schedule. John reminded that the heat pump bid was based on a model assuming completion of the insulation. Climate Smart Community Actions Review Dryden’s Bronze Recertification was announced publicly by DEC June 27. This yielded 800 points in the Clean Energy Program. Alice repeated that the town will have 90 days to submit a proposal to send the $175K grant, starting from the approval of the re-certification documents. The plan is to complete more research on options for grant spending before starting that clock ticking. However, the statewide grant funds are competitive and going quickly, so it’s important to have the plan in place and submit for the points before the end of the summer. Silver Certification: Jerry reported that Dryden has been approved for 221 points towards the 300 needed. He has identified 14 actions that Dryden can document to reach silver certification within the year. He and Gina have already met to begin determining how to gather and upload the data. One of the actions is approval of a town CCARP. Dryden Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CCARP) – Jerry, Alice Next steps include incorporating feedback from stakeholders and submitting the plan for acceptance by the town board. Jerry said he would like to follow up on feedback over the summer and aim to bring the final proposal to the town board in September. One piece of feedback from CCE was a suggestion to incorporate more agricultural adaptation and resiliency practices into the plan. Anne will share some recommendations from the conservation board. Municipal GHG Emissions Inventory- Will be updated this summer by Jerry and Gina. Updates on other Town and Inter-municipal Efforts DHS Student Report- Mckenna & Hunter both were absent Evan mentioned that Mckenna, Hunter and two other students will join him for an intergenerational meeting on Climate Change at the Chautauqua Institute later this summer, aimed at promoting conversations between young people and elders about responding to climate change. Bill McKibben will be a speaker. He also noted that he will attend a Summer of Heat protest on Wall Street Saturday July 27, with a focus on Chase Banks massive investments in fossil fuel. Dryden Town Board Report- Christina The town board has approved next steps on the plannedCaswell Road Solar/Battery installation project. Ray added that the board is also looking at another community solar installation off Morris Rd. Conservation Board Report – Anne The board meeting was cancelled last month because of the passing of long time member, and former chair, Bob Beck. Affordable Housing Task Force and Planning Board– Ray Ray said the task force had given feedback on the RFP for a consultant to consider options for the development of 87 acres behind town hall. The RFP was issued about a week ago. He said task force member Chuck Geisler is continuing to work with INHS and Sustainable Finger Lakes on mobile home weatherization. Christina commented that she saw many Halco signs in the Hillside Acres mobile home park, an indication that several units are getting weatherized and possibly converted to heat pumps. Village of Dryden CSC Task Force – Tom was absent No update on County Proposal for EV Charging Station Collaboration Next Meeting: scheduled for 5-6:30 pm Aug. 20, the third Tuesday of the month to avoid a conflict with the ZBA meetings at 6 pm on the second Tuesday Adjournment Respectfully submitted, Alice Walsh Green Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84683569959?pwd=YldTOUFDRWF3b29jNDhsU0Q4VW5pUT09 Meeting ID: 846 8356 9959 Passcode: 259422