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