Aquinnah Climate and Energy Committee Meeting
Aquinnah Climate and Energy Committee Meeting
November 9, 2021, 10 am
1. Energy Outreach. The towns' climate and energy committees are considering more detailed outreach to residents, highlighting the steps that individuals can take to help achieve our adopted goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2040. Attached is a message the Committee might ask to be sent to the Town’s email list.
2. Finish Identifying Aquinnah Reps for MVC Climate Action Plan. MVC has asked each town to name an individual to participate in each of six thematic working groups:
Energy transformation
Land use and natural resources
Economic resilience
Public health and safety
Food security
Infrastructure, transportation, and buildings
Have we finished identifying someone for each group?
3. Advisory Committee Member for Vineyard Power Resilience and Program (RAP). Vineyard Power will have an advisory committee to help it choose projects to support under its RAP, funded by Vineyard Wind. Where do we stand in identifying someone to represent Aquinnah on that committee?
4. Proposed Bylaw Revisions. We briefed the Select Board on October 19 about two proposed revisions to the Town bylaws to promote energy transformation. We’ll brief the Planning Board about these on December 7. We hope to see these proposals included in the warrant for the next Town meeting. We know of five towns (all on the mainland) that have done petitions on this subject, and others have them in the works.
(a) All-electric new construction. Revise the general bylaws to require that all new or substantially remodeled construction use electricity rather than fossil fuels for heating, cooling, and hot water. This would require that the Town file a home rule petition with the state legislature, as some other towns and cities are doing.
(b) Wiring for EV charger. Revise the general bylaws to require that all new or substantially revised construction include a 240-volt outlet, appropriately placed, to accommodate an EV charger.
5. Energy Questionnaire. Our Energy Questionnaire is on the Town’s website, and Jeffrey recently sent out a reminder to the Town’s email list. We have 44 responses so far. We will share the results (anonymously) with other towns to develop a combined report on the findings.
6. CERT. CERT went into action in connection with the recent nor’easter and opened the warming shelter for two days. CERT met on November 4 to discuss what went well or less well and what lessons we learned for future climate emergencies. We’ll hear a summary of that meeting. CERT is planning training sessions for its members and other volunteers. The first will be fire safety training on Saturday, November 13, at 10 am. An announcement will go out beforehand.
7. META Grant Application. We have applied on behalf of the Town to MA DOER for a Municipal Energy Technical Assistance (META) grant. The purpose of the grant program is to facilitate the use of independent third parties to aid towns and other public entities in the study, negotiation, development, and/or management of clean energy projects. We’re seeking a grant to engage a consultant to help us to make the best use of net metering credits as we install additional solar facilities at Town buildings.
A Zoom link to the meeting is below.
______________________________________________________________
Bill Lake is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Aquinnah Climate & Energy Committee Meeting
Time: Nov 9, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 461 416 1782
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