CEAC Minutes 342020Clean Energy Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes 3/4/2020
Beverly Public Library, Fogg Room
6:30- 8:00pm
Attendees:
• Committee members: Sean Leach, Julia Long, Julie DeSilva, Fred Hopps,
Tom Keeley
• Guests: City of Salem: Sustainability and Resiliency Coordinator
Esmerelda Bisono; City Councilor Scott Houseman
• Citizens: Lyndon Holmes, Wayne Miller, and Dean Berg
Welcome & Check In - Guest: Esmeralda from SERC
Esmeralda Bisono - SERC she started part -time in Salem on Solarize project,
partnering with Swampscott and Nahant on 3 different solar technologies: PV, hot
water, source heat pumps (installers: Boston Solar, NE Ductless, and xx);
program ends April 30 https://www.salem.com/home/ news / city - salem - joining- solarize -mass-
clean- energy - program
Reappointments, Fred's farewell at City Hall
Fred's farewell: everyone reappointed, add < Fred's comments if he has them>
Update: Pathway to 100% Resolution (Fred)
Make edit: $22B in resolution US Energy Info Agency gave that figure in 2017;
get the revised resolution to Mayor Cahill
SERC (Salem's CEAC) meeting recap (Dean / Esmerelda)
Researching ordinances of other communities to affect sustainable building
regs, etc.; might align with Beverly's resolution; Reimaging Salem meeting
is a great time to meet and discuss according to Fred
• Citizen group presented the idea of having sustainability and community
garden position at the Salem Public Schools
• Sustainability grant due at the end of the month, most likely using it for
electronic vehicles; Sean mentioned funding for EV charging stations is
available from National Grid
Resource kit for businesses
April 18, 11 am to 3 pm, Green Fair at Community Life Center Earth Day
event
Community Aggregation (Fred)
CCA is the most important thing to do as a community: there is no obligation, you
can opt out, there is more choice, no risk political or otherwise, there is significant
savings, the broker (e.g., Good Energy /John O'Rourke) fields all questions.
If we buy electricity in bulk, we have the ability to make regional choices.
140 municipalities (including Salem) in MA are already on board.
Tom suggested asking Salem to reach out to Beverly and suggest that they are
getting ready to renew their CCA contract and that pricing might be positively
impacted for both communities if they partner together. The Mayor is meeting
soon with John O'Rourke to discuss; Julie L. should reach to the Mayor and ask
to join.
EV bus letter of support (Sean)
MAPC and Catherine Barrett asked for a letter of support for education
surrounding EVs; Sean and Julie L. worked on it and the grant has been
submitted; fall EV event will include the new bus and be held at Beverly Middle
School
Carbon Pricing support? (Julie)
Update: Earth Month /sustainability fair (Julie L, Amy)
April 18 Sustainability Festival (start of April vacation) three -hour event at
Endicott College with a bike component, Change is Simple, and more.
April 22, 12 to 7pm MovieFest at The Cabot
1. Sponsored by Beverly Bike Committee called Mother Load
2. Glen Urqhart is the sponsor for: Pollinators
3. Is about climate change; Earth Day /Birthday; VIP lounge in the bar after
each movie
April 25 Sustainability Festival 11 am to 2pm at Lynch (EV component; local
vendors; local musicians)
Tues., April 21 3 to 5:30 BevTalks at the library (Dan Boschen bees ?) Fred
to emcee; suggestions for other individuals or orgs?
April 25 bike ride with MA 350 starting @10 AM at Footprint and ending at
Greenergy Park, then onto Lynch
Direct Energy (Sean)
Random company going door -to -door and saying they have negotiated rates with
the city when they haven't. Sean suggested to National Grid that they mention
this at their sustainability fairs. Sean will create and share on Green Beverly a
cheat sheet on the subject.
Wayne commented on packet of energy legislation sent to Julie L and Mayor
Cahill from Herb Brown to review, according to Wayne Miller the mayor is
prepared to support it; he also met with the Mayor, the city engineer, and the city
planner Aaron Clausen, and Jet Propulsion Lab regarding sea -level rise;
suggested sending white papers /executive summaries re: divesting in city funds,
carbon pricing and CCA
Supporting statewide legislation (Fred)
MA 350; 100% renewables, carbon pricing, roadmap bill, and more; Fred will
work with the committee to draft and send letters of support to legislators;
ED Ben Hellerstein of Environment MA would like to come when it happens Fred
recommends we go "all in" on 2810 (Benson Bill) let's be the first state to pass.
Motion to approve last meeting's minutes by Sean, seconded by Julie, motion
approved 5 to 0
Next Meeting: Wednesday, 4/1/2020 6:30- 8:00pm