This meeting constitutes AEG’s May meeting.

New Hampshire Solar Garden LLC presentation and discussion, Andrew Kellar.

The speaker described the evolution of his business and noted that he was now pursuing opportunities to provide support to communities as they begin to look at Group Net Metering. This approach is sometimes referred to as Community Solar.

Under this concept, a solar photovoltaic (PV) array is installed at one location, and the benefits of this power is shared in a virtual and accounting sense with group members that are not actually connected to the PV array. All group members must be from the same utility. Group members receive payments from New Hampshire Solar Garden based on consumption as shown on their electric utility bill.

New Hampshire Solar Garden constructs and owns the PV array and arranges financing. They would lease land from a local group member.

New Hampshire Solar Garden is interested to partner with towns looking to use town assets (e.g. rooftops, landfills, or open land) to generate revenue. Towns could potentially be a group member. New Hampshire Solar Garden would seek a pilot with a town to offset their tax liabilities.

New Hampshire Solar Garden needs local community member participation to make the concept work. Their standard array size is 66 kilowatts. The size of the PV array and individual group members’ consumption determines the number of members in a particular net metering group.

In Other News…

Jeff Dickinson reported that not until September will he be able to consider building a micro-hydro system on Hameshop Brook. The Andover Village District will need to be involved. Larry will try to set up a meeting with Mike Vercellotti, Village District commissioner.

What is the next step with Community Solar Garden? Pecco Beaufays is ready to begin the process with his four acres. The Andover Energy Group (AEG) recommends that Sophie take the solar garden concept to the Andover Board of Selectmen.

Jeff, with the go-ahead from Marj Roy and others, will install the tankless water heater at Town Hall.

The Board of Selectmen is creating a new roads and bridges committee.

On May 8, New Hampshire Electric Co-op is sponsoring an Energy Solutions Seminar to be held at Church Landing in Meredith from 8 AM to 12:45 PM. Topics will include LED lighting technology, mini-split heat pumps, and financing.

On May 21, AEG will meet with Eolian Wind Power at 7 PM at Town Hall. They want to install metering towers to check for wind possibilities.

Larry Chase will attempt to write a proposal for a group hybrid vehicle purchase and present it to Pecco for delivery to Tilton AutoServ.

Susan Chase spoke on the school building structural analysis, a project funded by School District warrants. She will continue to attend meetings, many of which are open to the public. Susan also mentioned an Upper Valley consortium looking to build group solar purchases.

The Wood Fuel Association just got “a pot of money” to visit towns and talk about heating with wood and biomass. The committee recommends they come to Andover, via the Board of Selectmen.

Stay current with energy topics by reading The Green Energy Times.

We meet next at Highland Lake Inn on Thursday, June 5, at 7 PM.