HomeMy WebLinkAboutNantucket Energy Study Committee Minutes 05-05-2011_201402051107348702Nantucket Energy Study Committeehttp://www.ackenergy.org/http://www.ackenergy.org/Press.html
DRAFTMinutes for meeting on May 5, 2011, at 2 Fairgrounds Road, NantucketNext scheduled meeting: June 2, 2011, 5PM, 2 Fairgrounds Road
In attendance were committee members Anne Kuszpa, Mike Burns, Peter Morrison, H. Flint Ranney and. new member John Stover. Absent were Barbara Gookin, Whitey Willauer, and Chris Magee. Also in at-tendance were special guest Scott Ridell from State Senator Dan Wolf’s office, Robert Patterson, Gregg Tivnan, Bob King, Kitty Pochman, Sandy Welsh, and Lindsay Pykosz (I&M reporter).
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Kuszpa at 5:01PM. The agenda, and minutes of the March 29 meeting, were approved unanimously.
During Public Comment, Ms. Welsh distributed informative information on alternative energy.
Mr. Ridley spoke of Senator Wolf’s interest in working with Rep. Madden on energy plans that are vital to the Cape and Islands. Ms. Kuszpa asked about the 1% cap on net metering, and Mr. Ridley said that for municipalities that has been increased to 2%, with legislation being introduced to raise it to 5%. He stated that there are technical issues with utilities when reversing the flow of electricity inherent in net meter-ing, and that utilities are in the business of selling electricity. Mr. Ranney asked why National Grid would buy electricity from Cape Wind at 18 cents per KWH but not from Nantucket’s Madaket (or other) wind turbines. Mr. Ridley said it’s a matter of politics versus economics and the utility business model needs reconstructing. He said Massachusetts is a leader among the 17 states with renewable energy programs.
Peter Morrison agreed to provide Mr. Ridley with a list of the barriers this committee is facing in trying to establish renewable energy on Nantucket. Mr. Ridley said he would advise us of some contacts at the fed-eral level who might be helpful with grants or other funding. He also said he would look into the National Grid home auditing program to see where or if possibly as much as $600,000 annually for Nantucket is being spent.
Mr. Morrison had attended an HDC meeting on the Madaket turbines and said that the HDC needs more specifics. Mr. Patterson reported on the progress of the solar panel project: we are awaiting design plans from the consultants, there are some 30 potential developers, and a pre-bid conference with a site tour will be held in the next two weeks.
Ms. Kuszpa said that funding through ReMain Nantucket will allow for setting up of a Town Renewable Energy Office in the near future. She also said she is working on our committee’s 2012 budget.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:28PM.
Respectfully submitted,
DRAFTH. Flint Ranney Secretary