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Institute for Sustainable Energy Board of Advisors
Board Meeting: June 4, 2007 Members present: Bob Wall, Director, Energy Market Initiatives, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Dana Kubachka, for Donald Downes, DPUC John Mengacci, Undersecretary, Policy Development & Planning Division, OPM Shirley Bergert, Public Benefits Taskforce Director, CT Legal Services
Staff: William Leahy, Director of Operations, ISE Laurel Kohl, ISE, Acting Secretary
Guests: Michael Pernal, Executive Vice President, Eastern Connecticut State University
The meeting was called to order by acting chairman, John Mengacci at 10:10am.
The minutes of the April 9, 2007 Board meeting were presented. A motion was made by Dana Kubachka, and seconded by Bob Wall to accept the minutes. The motion carried.
2007 ISE Budget
Bill Leahy updated the board concerning the anticipated budget shortfall for 2007. ISE has several opportunities for grant funded projects to fill the budget gap, including:
Other opportunities in the pipeline include; legislative funded outreach for a CT Biofuel education program; developing a inventory and database for OPM to track 20% by 2020, and work with the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce to provide a series of member workshops on energy related topics.
The new energy legislation should also some other new opportunities. Shirley Bergert raised the question of whether CCEF is willing to fund work performed by ISE. Bob Wall told the board that the Green High Performance Schools program is ramping up and will have a $1.5 million budget. A work plan is being presented to the CCEF stakeholder meeting in June and eventually to the CCEF Board. There is currently a recommendation to perform outreach on high performance school designs to local communities. That may prove to be a good fit for ISE. The initiative will also focus on getting renewable energy into schools, with an emphasis on targeting those schools at 60% + state reimbursement rates for building projects, as this provides a quick payback on renewable energy system investments by the towns.
Structure of the ISE Board of Advisors
Bill Leahy presented background on the original structure of the Board of Advisors for ISE. Developed in 2000-2001, ISE was expected to receive a significant endowment administered through CCEF. The endowment was never received. Without this funding, ECMB has consistently stepped-up and filled the gap and has been the primary funder of ISE activities. ECMB members have expressed concern that although ECMB funds ISE, they have no direct representation on the board.
Leahy presented a recommendation for a modification of the representation on the Board of Advisors. The proposed new board could be composed of the following positions:
And additions to the board will include:
Board members at the meeting discussed this change, and agreed that they were comfortable with the recommended changes. A motion was made by Shirley Bergert and seconded by Bob Wall to modify the composition of the ISE Board of Advisors and to waive the 60 day waiting period to put that change in place. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Shirley Bergert to implement the new board composition for the August 6, 2007 meeting. Motion was seconded by Dana Kubachka. Motion carried.
Energy Education Program The CTEnergyEducation.com program is expanding to include the Regional VoTech high schools through their Science curriculum. In addition to being available to the science teachers, the state apprenticeship trades programs and post-graduate trade program will feature energy efficiency information related to classroom material being presented. Bill Leahy and Laurel Kohl met with Robert Martin, the curriculum coordinator for state apprentice programs, who writes the prescribed courses for the program. Martin is more than willing to modify his program.
Green Campus Initiative This program has been expanded to include the community colleges. Leahy met with their Dr. Marc Herzog, Chancellor of the Connecticut Community College System. ISE will be benchmarking the 12 campuses, and providing site visits as well as assisting with the development of energy plans. Work has begun with Three Rivers CC and Gateway CC. A meeting and walk-through of Norwalk CC is also planned.
Multifamily Building Operator Training 25 attendees participated in the Building Operators Certification training held at Stamford UConn that was led by staff from Steven Winter Associates, from the New York office. The project is a 2 year contract funded by DOE through NYSERDA. ISE will offer another section of the course next year. It is planned to be offered in the greater Hartford area. The usual cost to participants to attending is $1000 to $1400 per person. With the DOE grant funding, ISE is able to charge $399 with $299 rebated if the individual attends all 3 classes and completed all assignments.
Other Activities The special session of the Legislature passed the High Performance building standards as part of the energy efficiency bill. ISE has been named as part of the appeals process if developers of buildings are seeking waivers from the green building standard. It is not clear, but it appears that ISE would only get payment for services rendered if we take part in appeals process. OPM and ISE are collaborating with DEP, DPW and Department of Public Safety on the regulations to the building standards that determine “LEED Silver Equivalency.” The new legislation also requires new schools over $5 million and school renovations projects over $2 million also follow these standards.
NECHP Initiative ISE is hosting the meeting of the Northeast Combined Heat and Power Initiative at UCONN on June 21, 2007. Speakers include Chairman Don Downes on Regional Energy Issues, Chris James on REGGI, Environment Northeast on the New England Climate Change Road Map, and Dr. William Moomaw of Tufts on Climate Change activities. It was suggested by the Board that DPUC Commissioner Anne George be invited.
Energy Planning ISE sponsored a meeting of the Connecticut State University energy policy implementers in New Britain on June 1. Staff from the four CSU campuses and members of the central office attended to discuss what they are currently doing to reduce energy costs. Leahy gave a presentation on the Green Campus Initiative, energy efficiency, demand response and CHP. There were also speakers from CL&P, CCEF and the DPUC.
Other Business ECSU has been awarded a DEP Green Circle Award for the Green Campus Initiative. The award sited the work of the Institute, Sustainable Energy Studies and campus energy efficiency and Greening efforts.
Next meeting of the ISE Board will be held on Monday, August 6, 2007
A motion was made by Dana Kubachka, and seconded by Shirley Bergert to adjourn. Motion carried at 11 am.
Respectfully submitted, Laurel Kohl Acting Secretary
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