September 5
Condensed from draft minutes
Attending: Steve and Gisela Darling, Susan and Larry Chase, Vicky Mishcon, Janet Moore, Jeff Dickinson, Sophie Viandier, Andy Prokosch, Tim Gallagher, guest Bill Spear from the New London Energy Committee.
The Green Energy Times is increasingly covering more of New Hampshire and not just Vermont. Andover Energy Group (AEG) members distribute this bimonthly to locations in Andover, New London, and Salisbury.
Vicky reported on the possibility of visiting the Groton wind farm with an Iberdrola guide. New date: perhaps October 23. Need high-clearance vehicle to view wind turbines. Sophie will pursue.
Adam Jones from Proctor has students available for community service projects; awaiting more information from Adam.
Ken Wells has a portable solar panel demonstration kit that is available for future use at outdoor events in the area. We should be mindful of possibilities.
New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association is sponsoring a “Green Buildings Open House Day” on October 5. See NHSEA.org.
Sophie spoke about biogas, her idea being to start with a small installation at the Transfer Station, then move to residential housing units. In our wintry climate, the installation would be “parasitic,” i.e., some of the gas produced would need to be used to heat the plant to keep it running.
Biogas is a husbandry activity. Find out if Bohanon Farm in Contoocook does any methane production. Sophie will communicate with Proctor re: their possible involvement in these energy projects.
ReVision sent a preliminary report from their municipal site visit in July, mostly drawings of a possible photovoltaic installation serving the Town’s municipal complex. The school and Town Hall could host enough solar panels to power all the municipal buildings.
With the passage of RSA 362-A, the Group Net Metering Statute, up to eight meters could be “connected” under one account. Jeff spoke again on the overall efficiency benefits of a biomass plant as another strong option.
Articles for The Andover Beacon are under Larry’s purview. The Andover Energy Group (AEG) minutes will be forwarded to the Beacon for publication.
Possible fall-winter workshops include a Saturday, October 19, financing workshop with a vice-president of Lake Sunapee Bank, Tyler Gilday.
Susan will be looking at a residential wind power workshop two or three weeks later. Should we open this up to general wind power? The committee voted to keep it a residential workshop, but we will postpone until spring. Instead, Sophie will host a home weatherization workshop on Saturday, November 9.
Bill Spear, a Colby-Sawyer professor, spoke about the New London Energy Committee, which is interested in a variety of partnership opportunities. Tom Mills, who owns the Millstone and Four Corners Grille restaurants, is always willing to talk about and demonstrate green energy options. He also has a biomass plant.
It’s also time to visit the Merrimack Valley Schools complex to tour its biomass plant, which heats both the middle and high schools. We were reminded to keep in touch with Professor Jennifer White at Colby-Sawyer with regard to alternative-energy programs and projects at the college.
The Kearsarge Valley Transition Initiative is trying to reach out into the communities and get involved with schools and standing committees. Sophie can set up a “meet-up” online for us to facilitate communication among, specifically, Andover groups.
Andy facilitated a short discussion on municipal bridge-building, the focus being on timber bridges, and asked whether the AEG or the Andover Conservation Commission should get involved in educating those who pay for and build local bridges. Andy will deliver a similar message to the Andover Conservation Commission.
The AEG will meet again on Thursday, October 3, at 7 PM, at a location to be determined.