Category Archives: Energy Committee

MEC Meeting Minutes-February 11, 2016

Attendance: Andrew Seaman, Lee Alinsky, Cynthia Greene, Pete Peterson, Maciej Konieczny, Fred Davis, Marie Nolan

1. January 13 meeting minutes accepted with additions.
2. High School Students – not in attendance.
3. Energy Manager’s Report
   16. WWTP Solar – Could start generating next week. PV system will be accepted by Town 3/1/16. On wait list for SRECs.
   17. 60 kW system is being considered for Public Safety Building. Roof weight and conduits sized for this system. Dore & Whittier drawing up plans. About a 7 to 9-year payback with SRECs. Options include having it done by GC or going out to bid later. Building construction estimated to be done October 7, 2016. Awaiting word on expansion of SREC program before moving forward with these plans.
   18. LED streetlights – Revised analysis provided by Fred D and Andrew S. Fixtures and installation costs $104,864 ($88,677 after incentives). Results in savings of $34,740/year including utility incentives and installation. Simple payback of 2.6 years to replace all 347 lamps with new LED fixtures after purchasing old HID fixtures for $1. Andrew confirmed $1 price from Eversource, offer good until April after Town Meeting. If Medfield did not purchase streetlights, likely replace with high sodium fixtures like existing on as need basis. Concluded best to replace all 347 streetlight all at once. Westwood used this approach with grant money from Green Communities. Andrew S. will investigate adding line item for streetlight purchase in this year’s capital budget or adding a warrant article. If wait one year, then forgo the $34,000 savings for one year. Streetlights are mounted on Verizon poles. Town owns arm and lamp itself. LED light warranty is 10 years. Money could be set-aside annually in reserve fund to pay for replacement in 15 years.
4. Solarize Massachusetts’ status – Marie N. presented proposal at last week’s Selectmen’s meeting.   The program received endorsement by them and a letter of support was written. Andrew S. is to submit application with attachments to Mass CEC tomorrow. It could take 4-6 weeks to learn whether application is accepted.
5. Community Shared Solar – similar to virtual net metering. Lee A. described the renewable Mass based program and will present possible projects for Medfield residents to consider at a future meeting.
6. Next steps for Green Communities: MEC presented at Warrant Committee and Hospital Reuse Committee. Warrant committee will vote on stretch code article at their February 23^rd MEMO meeting cancelled due to snow. Andrew S. scheduled to present at Permanent Planning & Building Committee but he may be on leave at the time. COA meeting to be scheduled. Recommended that at least I MEC member joins Andrew S at these meetings. Other community groups to present at: Lions, New in Towne, Medfield Green, and Legion. Andrew S will develop 5-year Energy Plan pending stretch code approval at Town Meeting. Press Release to be written on town energy-related initiatives. Looking into a possible writer to interview Andrew S.
7. MMA Annual Meeting, Energy Session attended by Fred D. – Reported out the remarks made by the ISO-New England representative and the MA Energy Commissioner.   General sentiment was that new natural gas pipelines are not needed in the state.   Also reported at the meeting that over half (155) of MA towns are designated Green Communities.

Next month’s meeting – tentatively scheduled for March 17, 2016. Location and date to be confirmed.

The Energy Committee met last night, and Fred Davis circulated an updated analysis of the savings from buying our streetlights from Eversource and installing LED streetlights.  Eversource has now set the price for the town to buy the streetlights at $1.00, due to the streetlights having been depreciated over time – we have probably paid a good price for them already in the annual $41K/year current cost.

The new analysis included

1. that buy out price,
2. a calculation correction, and
3. the now known annual maintenance cost.

Yearly savings with the LED streetlights are $34,740 and the pay back period is 2.6 years for the $104K cost – plus we get better lighting.  I am hoping that Mike can get this done ASAP.

Fred Davis runs a company in town that specializes in supplying lighting products.  Fred is both extremely knowledgeable about how to save energy and about lighting products.  Fred presented to the Energy Committee at a recent meeting on the savings the town could affect by buying our streetlights and installing LED fixtures.

The town can get a 3.6 year payback on the cost to buy and refit, then we save almost $20K/year going forward.  The maintenance contract cost was not known, but is guessed to be about $5K/year.

Additionally, one gets a better and therefore safer illumination for all residents.

This was Fred’s analysis –

MEC Meeting Minutes-January 13, 2016

Attendance:  Fred Bunger, Andrew Seaman, Alan Peterson, Lee Alinksy, Cynthia Greene, Pete Peterson, Maciej Konieczny, Marie Nolan

1.       Presentation on LED Streetlighting by Fred Davis

a.        Outlined various options for LED conversion including smart controls, various types of fixtures and costs/savings associated with this project.

2.       Energy Manager Report

a.       WWTP Solar progressing with no issues.  Panels are mounted, cable trench dug and wiring continues.  Estimated substantial completion date of February 11.

b.      Other town solar projects:

i.      Public Safety Building-Permanent Building Committee has elected to submit an RFI for a change order to install solar at the PS Building.  Should have an estimated cost by end of February.

ii.      DPW Garage-Exploring a PPA at this site.  Greenskies to submit proposal and A. Seaman to review with MEC at next meeting.

iii.      Generating interest in solar at the landfill.  Still in the fact-finding phase and will report on any additional progress.

3.       MHS meeting with Environmental studies students regarding solar at MHS.

a.       Discussed various options for the school and other town sites.  Students were excited to see progress being made and wanted to see how they could be advocates for this progress.  Since most of the class are seniors and over 18 they would be eligible to vote at Town Meeting, so Fred and Andrew asked them to initiate a Get Out and Vote campaign at school before the Meeting.

4.       Community Electricity Aggregation Program

a.       Committee felt it was not the MEC place to promote this program and should come from Selectmen.  Selectman Peterson will bring this up at a future Selectmen meeting.

5.       Green Communities

a.       Vehicle Policy-Selectmen and School Board have approved the Policy

b.      Stretch Code – Warrant Committee presentation went well.  Appears most members are in favor of adoption.  Timeline for their vote is by the end of February.   Other Town Committees to discuss Stretch Code include COA, , MSHPC, MEMO, Planning, and Permanent Building.

Next Meeting Thursday, February 11th at 7:30 at the Town Garage