Arlington Energy Committee
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
6:30 – 8:00 pm
At Town Hall and Online
In attendance:
Present in Town Hall: Joan Nash, Stephanie Moffett-Hynds
On Zoom: Alexandra Ernst, Garret Siegel, Mary Anne Holmes
Absent: Mardi Crane, Karen Lee, Jenny Murtaugh
Call to Order: 6:34pm
1. Additions or Deletions to Agenda
a. Joan added a discussion point regarding a possible town forest to the Net Zero Hero agenda item in 3c.
2. Approval of Minutes, March 26 AEC meeting: Steph moved to accept; Mary Anne seconded, no objections.
3. Old Business
3a. Climate Hazard Mitigation and Outreach Discussion – Garret
Garret reported that the committee has been doing a lot of great work preparing the plan. (The committee consists of Garret Siegel, Mary Anne Holmes, Alexandra Ernst, Eleanor Murno, and Nick Zaiac sometimes attends.) They have finished the following chapters: Winer Storms, Invasive Species, Severe Cold, and Severe Heat. These are also in order according to hazards most likely to occur here to least likely. They are currently working on the chapter concerning High Wind. Garret reports that they feel strongly that climate change be a part of this document as it is the main driver of many of these hazards and necessitates preparedness. They are doing a lot of rewriting. Alex reported that is has been very collaborative and that she is learning a lot. After outlining the various possible hazards, the next step will be to identify the tasks needed to help the town mitigate them and react to them—all efforts to help the town and its people.
Dara Zink at the BCRC has requested a copy of the work thus far accomplished.
3b. Update on Energy Section of Town Plan: Garret reminded the committee that the update to this section will not be due until 2028, so no action is currently being taken on it. But when that does commence, it should involve members of both the Energy and the Planning committees.
3c. Carbon Hero (Net Zero Hero) proposal: A long discussion took place about what needs to be considered in order for the project to be a success. Alex had sent out a two-page document she wrote in which she asks many good questions that would need to be resolved. ACTION: All AEC members are asked to read the document, as well as the booklet on forest management that she also sent out before the next meeting. Some the items in this initial discussion included:
- That the program offer a range of actions from passive conservation to active forest management (planting trees, removing invasives, etc.)
- A reminder that properties in Current Use may not be included, as that would be double counting. As Current Use applies to those properties of 25 acres or more, however, there might be many people who would qualify for the Net Zero Hero program who have under 25 acres.
- The ultimate program: keep it simple. Don’t make it too complicated or too restrictive. Don’t make it too hard to be a carbon hero, while still providing clear criteria for what is necessary in order to qualify for the designation.
- The registry of participants might be able to be held in the town records.
- There is a fairly wide range of sometimes contradictory viewpoints—and by good, dedicated forestry people—on what is considered best practice for managing a forest with carbon sequestration in mind. Steph recalled the presentation by Rob Terry, the executive director of Merck Forest, to the committee a couple of years ago, as well as Jenny Murtaugh’s nuanced contributions. She suggested that we invite Zack of Standing Trees to be a presenter next; Garret suggested that we invite at least one other person who might have a different viewpoint. Joan will reach out to Peter Hildick-Smith to request a suggestion for who that might be. MOTION: Joan made a motion that we contact Zack of Standing Trees and others with differing viewpoints to speak to us about best practices in forest management so that we will be better positioned to shape our Net Zero Hero program. Garret seconded it. Steph will reach out to Zack. Alex recommends that we publicize when they will be joining us so that we get more participation from interested folks in our town. Steph suggested using Happening In Arlington and Front Porch Forum and maybe making some flyers.
- Joan added that she has heard that the parcel of land on Red Mountain— that had previously been offered to the town and rejected— might be back on the table again. If this were the case, it could be a huge carbon offset for the town and would certainly have the potential to satisfy the town’s carbon sequestration goals. The town could count it. This is a point that the Energy committee should put in writing in a letter of encouragement and guidance to the Select Board, if this is indeed reintroduced for consideration.
3d. Update on tracking tool: Joan reported that she had no updates to give because nobody has come forward to audit her spreadsheets. ACTION: Committee members are asked to please schedule an hour or two to come into the Town Hall to compare the invoices she is using to the data in her spreadsheets to make sure she has entered everything correctly. It can’t just be her efforts alone; another pair of eyes must always double-check. If three of us volunteer to come in, that would go a long way. Please contact her.
4. New Business:
4a. Window Dressers: Steph reports that the steering committee has been meeting regularly (just sent out a letter to all previous participants). She will be staffing a table at the Manchester Energy Fair for an hour on May 17th and has reached out to Peggy Hansen to see about the AEC’s having a table at the Arlington Village Farmers Market to publicize the Community Build to take place at the American Legion again in the fall and also to spread the word about the Net Zero Hero program (once it is ready and once the Select Board has approved it).
4b. Steph also reminded everyone about the celebration of life Mardi’s husband, Al Godreau, to take place on May 17th at 1 PM at the Performing Arts Center of The Arlington Common.
4c. Steph said she called Cynthia Browning, interim Energy Coordinator right before tonight’s meeting began, realizing that probably nobody had reached out to her yet to invite her to join us. Cynthia asked that we send her an update on the things we are thinking about, who the key contact person(s) should be, and the date of our next meeting. Steph will send her these minutes, as well as an updated roster (as the one our website is really out of date).
4d. Steph also shared with the committee that she has been appointed a member of the Vermont Climate Council to represent rural communities. She wanted the committee members to know that she agreed to throw her hat in the ring for this not because she thinks she is the most qualified. She readily acknowledges that every person on the committee knows more than she about the technology, science, and nuances of the components being considered for the updated Climate Action Plan. She accepted the position because she sees it as a learning opportunity for her to dive deep and really try to grasp much of what is being considered, and then to be a conduit between the committee and the residents of Arlington to the Council and vice versa. She hopes to be of service to both, and she knows that she will need to seek the committee’s advice on many issues to better understand them. There is a lot of work to do and the Climate Council will be coming right down to the wire on it, with the deadline for completion fast approaching on July 1st. She is grateful for the opportunity to make sure that Arlington and other rural communities (and southwestern Vermont in particular) will have a place at the table.
Next Meeting will be June 4, 2025, 6:30pm, Town Hall and Online.
Adjournment: Garret made a motion to adjourn; Steph seconded; All approved. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM.