energy committee minutes April 13

Newbury Energy Committee

April 13, 2010

 

Minutes

 

The meeting convened at 6:30 pm at the Tenney Memorial Library.  Attending were:  Linda Ide (Chair), Liane Allen, David Root, and Peggy Hewes; Larry Scott arrived at 7:50 pm.

 

The agenda was reviewed and accepted.

 

Linda will consult with the Selectboard and the Highway Foreman on April 26 regarding Federal energy grant funding being administered through Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Planning Commission.

 

Linda reviewed discussion items from the joint meeting with the Bradford Energy & Conservation Committees on March 9.

 

Congratulations to committee member Dylan Kidder on the birth of a new baby.

 

The committee will co-sponsor a presentation by Larry Scott and Peggy Hewes on the oil seed projects underway at Ekolott Farm.  The presentation will be April 24, 7 pm, at the Newbury Congregational Church.

 

Linda announced that the annual meeting for the Association of VT Conservation Commissions will be April 17 at VTC.

 

Larry Scott, Chair of the Newbury Planning Commission, provided copies of the section of the Town Plan concerning energy.  He invited representatives of the committee to attend the Planning Commission meeting on May 27 to make recommendations for revising this section of the Plan.  The committee will review the document and prepare recommendations at its next meeting on May 11.  Discussion followed on how to balance the benefits of zoning with the rights of landowners.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Hewes

 

 

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Newbury/Bradford Joint Meeting

Energy Committees & Conservation Commissions

March 9, 2010

 

Minutes

 

The meeting convened at 7:00 pm at the Bradford Academy.  Attending were:

Nikki Darling, Nancy Jones, Linda Ide, Sandy Price, David Root, Linda Bryan, Ed Wendell, Mike Thomas, Kathy Davidow, Peggy Hewes

 

The group agreed to hold a "Solar Hot Water Challenge" in Bradford on April 24 and divided up tasks.

 

Linda Bryan reported on the movie series in Newbury.  Attendance has been good.  Garbage is tentatively scheduled for March 20 at the Tenney Library.  Discussion followed re: copyright issues for showing Netflix films.  The Bradford film series will begin with King Corn at the Colatina on April 5.  The Bradford Conservation Commission has just purchased a projector.

 

Following up on Transition Town, there is nothing to report in Bradford.  Linda Ide suggested that the people who just completed the Menu for the Future discussion series in Wells River might be a potential "starter" group.  Discussion followed on how Transition Town works and whether planning boards should be involved.  Consensus was: bring in a speaker from a working Transition Town, form a steering committee, involve any other related efforts (such as "Local First") already in place, and emphasize re-skilling.  Kathy recommended inviting someone from White River Jct. to our next joint meeting on June 8.

 

Nancy reported on the grant proposal for the Bradford Industrial Park and on the up-coming expansion of the Bradford Park & Ride.

 

Further brainstorming on field trips produced a new list of possible destinations:  High Fields Institute/High Mowing Seeds, Bob Sanborn's compost operation, a wind farm, a cow-power methane digester, the Coventry methane waste facility.  For immediate plans, Nancy suggested carpooling to the NEK Energy Fair, followed by a trip to Hardwick in the summer.  The Bradford Elementary 5^th & 6^th grades' alternative energy unit was also discussed.

 

Mike announced that National Trails Day will be the 1^st Saturday in June, and he will be organizing a crew of volunteers to work at the Wells River conservation area.  The Journal Opinion has promised to do a feature article on this event.  Mike also reported on plans for the annual "Paddle the Border" in May.  He hopes that an up-coming  planning meeting will  encourage more groups/organizations to participate with displays, activities, or performances along the river or at the destination site.  Rotary will do a BBQ, and Strawberry Farm Band will play.  The Bradford Conservation Commission will meet March 17 to decide whether to sponsor a newspaper ad.  Nancy will refer the Valley News correspondent to Mike.

 

The first planning meeting for the LEAF festival will be April 27 at 6:30 in Bradford.  LEAF is scheduled for Sept. 18.  Peggy reported that Ekolott Farm will probably do an "open house" this year to demonstrate its oilseed project, and perhaps that can be coordinated with LEAF.

 

Following up on PACE, Ed will research the voting results in towns with articles on their warnings this year.

 

Sandy announced that she will do a workshop at the Bradford Library on Earth Day.  Nancy and Linda B. will do a wildflower photography workshop there later in the spring.  Mike suggested that Bradford and Newbury Elementary Schools organize a "hiking exchange".

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Hewes

 

 

 

 

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The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. Get busy.

Minutes, March 9, 2010, Joint Meeting

Newbury/Bradford Joint Meeting

Energy Committees & Conservation Commissions

 

The meeting convened at 7:00 pm at the Bradford Academy.  Attending were:

Nikki Darling, Nancy Jones, Linda Ide, Sandy Price, David Root, Linda Bryan, Ed Wendell, Mike Thomas, Kathy Davidow, Peggy Hewes

 

The group agreed to hold a "Solar Hot Water Challenge" in Bradford on April 24 and divided up tasks.

 

Linda Bryan reported on the movie series in Newbury.  Attendance has been good.  Garbage is tentatively scheduled for March 20 at the Tenney Library.  Discussion followed re: copyright issues for showing Netflix films.  The Bradford film series will begin with King Corn at the Colatina on April 5.  The Bradford Conservation Commission has just purchased a projector.

 

Following up on Transition Town, there is nothing to report in Bradford.  Linda Ide suggested that the people who just completed the Menu for the Future discussion series in Wells River might be a potential "starter" group.  Discussion followed on how Transition Town works and whether planning boards should be involved.  Consensus was: bring in a speaker from a working Transition Town, form a steering committee, involve any other related efforts (such as "Local First") already in place, and emphasize re-skilling.  Kathy recommended inviting someone from White River Jct. to our next joint meeting on June 8.

 

Nancy reported on the grant proposal for the Bradford Industrial Park and on the up-coming expansion of the Bradford Park & Ride.

 

Further brainstorming on field trips produced a new list of possible destinations:  High Fields Institute/High Mowing Seeds, Bob Sanborn's compost operation, a wind farm, a cow-power methane digester, the Coventry methane waste facility.  For immediate plans, Nancy suggested carpooling to the NEK Energy Fair, followed by a trip to Hardwick in the summer.  The Bradford Elementary 5^th & 6^th grades' alternative energy unit was also discussed.

 

Mike announced that National Trails Day will be the 1^st Saturday in June, and he will be organizing a crew of volunteers to work at the Wells River conservation area.  The Journal Opinion has promised to do a feature article on this event.  Mike also reported on plans for the annual "Paddle the Border" in May.  He hopes that an up-coming  planning meeting will  encourage more groups/organizations to participate with displays, activities, or performances along the river or at the destination site.  Rotary will do a BBQ, and Strawberry Farm Band will play.  The Bradford Conservation Commission will meet March 17 to decide whether to sponsor a newspaper ad.  Nancy will refer the Valley News correspondent to Mike.

 

The first planning meeting for the LEAF festival will be April 27 at 6:30 in Bradford.  LEAF is scheduled for Sept. 18.  Peggy reported that Ekolott Farm will probably do an "open house" this year to demonstrate its oilseed project, and perhaps that can be coordinated with LEAF.

 

Following up on PACE, Ed will research the voting results in towns with articles on their warnings this year.

 

Sandy announced that she will do a workshop at the Bradford Library on Earth Day.  Nancy and Linda B. will do a wildflower photography workshop there later in the spring.  Mike suggested that Bradford and Newbury Elementary Schools organize a "hiking exchange".

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Hewes

Newbury's 350 Action

Despite the deluge, a small handful of Newbury residents (three, to be exact) braved the elements to "Rake It In" - creating a 350 out of leaves to demonstrate the need to reduce our the level of atmospheric carbon to 350 parts per million.

Our damp volunteers:
(Pictured, r to l: Linda Ide, Liane Allen; not pictured: Andrew Nicholson)

Oct. 24 - 350 Day of Action in Newbury

Some of you may have heard of 350.0rg and the work they're doing to make people aware of the importance of returning to 350 ppm of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

A group of Newbury residents has decided to join in the 350 Day of Action on Newbury common, tomorrow, October, 24, from 12:15 - 1:00 PM.

RSVP Here: http://www.350.org/NewburyVT350

It's a low-key, come-as-you-are event. Bring a leaf rake, if you have one, and help rake up autumn leaves into piles shaped like the number 350. There will be photos, and an opportunity to tell the world (via YouTube video) why 350 is important to you.

If you don't know about 350, that's OK. More information is available on the 350.org web site, and the following video provides a summary:

Newbury Energy Committee - October 13, 2009 Minutes

The Newbury Energy Committee met on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at the Tenney Memorial Library.  Attending were:  Linda Ide (Chair), Royce Thompson, Dave Root, Dylan Kidder, and Peggy Hewes.  The meeting convened at 6:05 with a review of the agenda.

Royce, Linda, and Dylan reported on the 2^nd annual LEAF alternative energy festival which was held in Bradford on October 10.  Royce and Dylan had good attendance at their workshops.  Dylan initiated brief discussion of whether the festival will be able to sustain interest and attendance on a yearly basis.  Dave expressed hope that a website will be developed for posting presenters' information.  Linda noted that she will attend the LEAF committee meeting on October 14 and will share these questions and comments.

Royce reported on Ben Faulk's sustainability presentation recently offered in White River Jct.

Regarding resumption of a film series co-sponsored by the Conservation Commission and, perhaps, the Bradford Energy Committee, Dylan will contact Mike Thomas with a plan to schedule for the end of November.

Linda and Dave reported that the energy assessment sub-committee met to discuss and consolidate their notes following the assessment of the Town Garage.  Linda will type up the final report and send it out.  Dave briefly summarized the garage assessment, noting some possible remediation priorities: vent louvres, lighting system (for which professional evaluation is recommended), and supplying a separate oxygen port for the heating system.  He also noted that the Highway Department should not be expected to do this work and that grant funding may be an option.

Dave distributed copies of information from VT Energy Investment Corporation.  He will also scan and send out copies of information forwarded from the Selectboard regarding energy grant opportunities.  The committee will review and discuss both documents at the November meeting.

Following up on the committee's interest in biomass heating systems for schools, Dylan will research Oxbow's investigation into this energy source to learn why it was not pursued.  If it appears to be an issue the committee can work on, Linda will then contact a technical assistance resource person to whom she has been referred for additional information.  She will also ask if the Bradford Energy Committee has done any work in this area with possible collaboration in mind.

The committee agreed to try to host another "Button Up VT" presentation at BMU.  Dave, with assistance from Peggy as needed, will work on this.

Peggy reported that the Baldwin Library will host one of the VT Earth Institute's discussion series.  This will begin in January.  She will also contact the Tenney Library to see if there is interest in hosting a second series there.

Linda announced the 2^nd annual local energy organizing workshop sponsored by VECAN and scheduled for December 5 at Lake Morey.  Details are on the website.  She urged all committee members to attend.

The next meeting will be November 10, 6:00 pm, at the Tenney Library.

The meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Hewes

Newbury Energy Committee - August 11, 2009 Minutes

The Newbury Energy Committee met on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at the Tenney Memorial Library at 6:25 pm. Attending were: Linda Ide (Chair), Lianne Allen, Dave Root, and Peggy Hewes.

The agenda was approved with two additional items added.

A sub-committee will meet at a later date to assess the booth at Crackerbarrel and to plan involvement in the LEAF (Local Alternative Energy Festival) event coming up in October in Bradford.

Liane distributed instructions for using the committee's website and then left to attend another meeting at 6:30 pm.

Dave suggested that the energy assessment sub-committee meet to brainstorm what worked well and what could be changed following the assessment of the Town Garage. He and Linda provided a brief review of the assessment and expressed appreciation for the Highway Foreman's helpfulness.

Peggy presented materials from the VT Energy Investment Corporation which had been forwarded from the Selectboard. Dave will scan and e-mail copies to all committee members for review at a later date.

Peggy also reported that the Bradford Farmers' Market has requested help implementing a grant from NOFA to fund start-up of an on-line farmers' market. The committee briefly brainstormed ideas but ultimately questioned whether this is within its scope.

"Source to Sea", sponsored by the CT River Watershed Council and scheduled for October 3, was noted.

Linda will check with the Conservation Commission about resuming the film series.

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.

The next meeting will be September 8 at 6:00 pm at the Tenney Library.

Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Hewes