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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20160621 ESTF Minutes1 ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY TASK FORCE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES June 21, 2016 1 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof the second meeting of the Environmental & Sustainability Task Force of the City of Rosemount was called to order on June 21, 2016, at 5:34 p.m. in the Conference Room of the City Hall, 2875 145th Street West, Rosemount. Attendees included: Task Force Members Kathleen Koch-Laveen, Mark Glende, Rebecca Higgins, Renee Burman, and Wade Miller; Council Member Vanessa Demuth, Public Works Director Patrick Wrase, and Senior Engineering Technician Derick Anderson. Guests attending included: John Morast, Interim Public Works Director; Tim Doherty and Tyler Kashdan, Dakota Electric; Jake Sedlacek and Yvonne Pfeifer, Xcel Energy; and Avery Hildebrand, Conservation Minnesota. 2 ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA There were no additions or corrections to the agenda 3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Burman. Second by Miller. Ayes: 5. Nays: 0. Absent: 0. Motion carried. 4 PRESENTATIONS Tim Doherty and Tyler Kashdan from Dakota Electric discussed the existing programs in which the residents and businesses in Rosemount are eligible to participate in. Dakota Electric serves about 3300 accounts in the city. Renewable options include the Wellspring Program where commercial and residential customers can purchase solar or wind energy in 100kWh blocks. Higgins asked about typical cost of solar for residential installations, Dorherty responded that they use $4/watt installed or about $16,000 total. Rebates are available to offset that cost. Doherty and Kashdan went over the Residential Conservation Programs to use less energy and to use less peak energy, by use of rebates for high efficiency appliances and energy audits. On the commercial side, there are walk thru audits, engineering assistance which pays 75% of the cost. The goal is to save 15,000,000 kWh a year, which they always have met. They issue about $4,000,000 in rebates a year. Doherty discussed the LED street light plan, which will take 10 years or more to complete. New developments go to LED from the start. 2 Demuth asked if they could determine how many were on the Electric Vehicle Program and about having a charging station in the park. Jake Sedlacek and Yvonne Pfeifer from Xcel Energy gave a presentation and stated they want people to get involved. They discussed rooftop solar and community solar projects like Solar City. Rebates are available for electric and gas customers for smart thermostats, insulation, LED light bulbs are instant rebates at the store. Peak electric “Saver Switch” saves 15% off summer electric bills. They discussed various residential and commercial programs to save energy. Recommended CenterPoint Energy Home Energy Squad, for $70 you receive $200 worth of equipment. Windsource – purchase entire energy from wind for $0.08 / kWh more, buy in 100 kWh blocks. Partners in Energy – over a 2 year period develop an energy plan. 9 communities are going through the process. The first 6 months are for developing the plan, implementation support over the remaining 18 months. Application process is in October, goal is to add 3 new communities. Koch-Laveen asked if you can apply for Xcel rebates if only an Xcel gas customer, Jake Sedlacek replied you can only apply for rebates on gas use. Koch-Laveen asked if either company would speak to other groups, i.e. neighborhood groups. Doherty said Dakota Electric would send Tyler Kashdan out to speak to groups. Demuth asked about smart phone apps, Xcel has “My Account” to get energy use but it doesn’t provide real time energy use. Power check meters are available at libraries. Avery Hilderbrand from Conservation Minnesota spoke briefly about the Bird City program, similar to Green Steps program. Hastings is the first Bird City, Northfield will be the second. 5 UPDATES The next meeting is scheduled for July 19, 2016, suggestions for agenda items include stormwater management / conservation, organic drop off site, bringing Avery Hilderbrand back for additional time to speak, diesel retrofit, Leprechaun Day booth, “Freeze out” to get rid of old air conditioners. 6 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.