Arlington Energy Committee
Minutes
November 6, 2024
6:30 – 8:00 PM
In-person at Town Hall and online
Present: in person: Karen Lee, Jenny Murtaugh, Mary Anne Holmes, Joan Nash, via zoom: Mardi Crane, Alexandra Ernst, Garret Siegel, Stephanie Moffett-Hynds
Call to order: 6:39 PM
New Business
- Additions/Deletions from Agenda:
Mary Anne Holmes wanted to discuss bike paths in the Town..
- Minutes:
Approval of minutes from the September meeting moved by Mary Anne Holmes, seconded by Alexandra Ernst. Unanimously approved.
October minutes to be approved at next month’s meeting.
Hazard Mitigation Plan outreach:
Karen Lee asked Mary Anne Holmes about landslide maps. Mary Anne Holmes will send link to members. Karen Lee summarized last month’s discussion on the topic. Garret Siegel, who serves on the Hazard Mitigation Committee, reminded everyone about surveys that were sent out to all residents. Surveys were intended to determine what residents are most concerned about. He informed the committee that a public meeting will be held at town hall on November 13 to gather more information. Dec 1 is first Hazard Mitigation Committee meeting to discuss findings from the public research. Mardi Crane expressed concern about timing of existing plan and lack of outreach. Alexandra Ernst pointed out that a lot progress toward hazard mitigation has been done, with more yet to do. Mardi Crane asked how the town gets emergency warnings out to the public especially to people who do not have cell phones. The suggestion of using a fire siren was cited as example solution. Mardi Crane expressed concern that the person responsible for reaction to crises needs to be experienced dealing with public emergencies, such as a fire chief. Karen Lee emphasized that all committee members need to read the plan and that public outreach about the plan has been nonexistent to-date. Stephanie Moffett-Hynds mentioned the effectiveness of a possible postcard campaign.
Tracking Tool Update:
Joan Nash distributed printed copies of the updates that she completed since the last meeting which include user-friendly questions for calculating carbon footprints. The committee discussed the two case studies that show the cost of heating with cold-climate heat pumps.
Window Dressers Update:
Jenny Murtaugh attended WD debriefing meeting on Nov 4. The 1st Congregational church was happy with the hosting the WD build. WD may use the church again. She reported that group of mobile home residents in Wells may be interested in holding their own build next year. And, there are people in Rutland who may be starting up their own WD chapter.
Northshire built almost 300 inserts plus 8 rewraps. Northshire has 150 new orders for 2025 season. Bryan Dalton reported that Marshall Hudson-Knapp made a flip chart for WD presentations. He gave a presentation to the Pawlet planning commission about WD. It was a good meeting but they probably won’t host their own build.
Email outreach to 2024 insert customers for participation in next year’s build by Northshire volunteers will happen.
- New Business –
Net Carbon Goals:
Karen Lee discussed that the committee should develop ideas to offset the net carbon footprint of Town operations.
Mardi Crane suggested that ag practices within Town limits should be encourage by, paying farmers to go organic, regenerative methods.
Karen Lee suggested a carbon bank concept in which people would make commitmento sequester carbon for the Town offset. Suggested calling those folks Net Zero Heroes. Stephanie Moffett-Hynds pointed out that those commitments could be temporary and not reliable.
Mary Anne Holmes suggested that The Nature Conservancy be asked to purchase lands in Arlington for carbon mitigation, which led to discussion about a parcel on Red MT that was offered to the town several years ago as a conservation parcel. Mary Anne Holmes and Karen Lee are going to get in touch with M. Pickering to learn about the status of that parcel as a potential site for permanent carbon sequestration to benefit the Town.
Mardi Crane brought up the idea of having a Town location for dropping leaves, brush, etc. to provide composted soil to residents. Led to discussion that we need more outreach about CO2 impacts of brush burning.
A discussion of yard signs for residents to display No Mow May signs ensued.
Karen Lee asked the committee to think about outreach efforts that the committee would perform, pre-spring and pre-autumn, to promote best carbon reduction gardening practices.
Need to research net savings of composting vs. burning.
AEC Chair discussion:
Karen Lee noted that she will be traveling out of state from December – May and asked another member to volunteer as co-chair until Stephanie Moffett-Hynds is recovered. Steph proposed that members take turns as co-chair and reminded members that a person needs to be present at Town Hall since the AEC meetings are public.
Bike Paths. Stephanie Moffett-Hynds said that Nick Zaiac has done quite a bit of work on that topic and that Mary Anne Holmes should discuss the issue with him.
Garret Siegel moved to adjourn. Joan Nash seconded; none opposed. Adjourned at 8:01 PM