Arlington Energy Committee
Minutes for Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Members Present, in person: Stephanie Moffett-Hynds, Joan Nash, Mary Anne Holmes.
Via Zoom: Alex Ernst, Garret Siegel
Absent: Mardi Crane, Bill Laberge
Also Present: N/A
The meeting was called to order at 6:08 PM, by AEC Chair, Stephanie.
Additions to or Deletions from the Agenda:
None.
Minutes of the previous meeting of February 4, 2026: Joni moved to approve the minutes. MAH seconded. Motion carried.
Old Business:
- Report on Arlington Area Alliance Volunteer Fair: held Friday, March 27th
By Steph: Held for towns of Arlington, Sunderland, Manchester, Dorset at the Martha Canfield Library. Roger Hanson and Bryan Dalton staffed a Window Dressers table where two people signed up to volunteer for the fall Window Dressers build. There were at least 10 area organizations with well-staffed tables.
It appeared to be poorly attended, however, perhaps because it was a Friday afternoon. While it was widely advertised, the AAA may have missed an opportunity to gather folks in by not having big sandwich boards at the corner of East Arlington and 7A, as well as in front of both Fisher and AMHS. They At least one of them could have said something like, “New to Perhaps it should be at Farmer’s Market or at the Common along with music, etc., or at Community House.
- Follow Up with Select Board re Fire Houses (energy history)
A concern was raised re: high energy bill for fire house, per p.26 of town report. There was a change in the budget for fire house because of new ownership. Before, someone else was paying electric bill; now the town must pay. Joni has already modified the tracking tool to account for this addition. West Arlington FH is perfectly situated to have solar panels…heat pumps. Will SB allow us to do blower test – especially the E. Arlington FH which is going to be sold and a new one built on 7A one day?
- Follow Up with Select Board re MERP grant for Town Hall & Town Garage efficiency projects
Joni hasn’t received original grant application to help us understand the requirements of grant application process. We need to provide info to SB for energy assessment assistance, such as who in the area might install insulation, etc. See the Efficiency VT website, how to use:
At top, Find a Pro; In drop down, enter Weatherization; Lists all Certified Professionals who do this work. Enter zip. Steph finds 51 initial results: Heat Squad; etc. Then you have to narrow down, depending on commercial or residential need.
Joni will get the list from website, email to Cynthia; provide instructions on Efficiency Vermont website use as well. Everyone is looking for this expertise right now as federal funds are set to expire, so we need to get on this.
There was one response to RFP for window and garage door installation. The SB wanted more responses.
Another option: get heat pumps installed, don’t need to turn them on until insulation is installed.
- Update on Bylaws change sent to Select Board
Cynthia sent AEC by-laws change to SB that Steph drafted to allow for a vice-president; acknowledged but haven’t responded yet. New question about whether there is a requirement for committee members to be a full-time resident of Arlington.
- Final re AEC Orientation Packet and Additions to AEC website page
Joni to print hard copies.
- AEC mentorships with AMHS
Steph to talk to Mardi and to contact Joanna Lederer Barnes
- Projects: Window Dressers
There are two different websites:
1) Community Build SignUp web page is now live. This is much earlier than previously. There is already a flyer with a QR code that goes straight to our page: https://signup.com/go/mXGPVai. This is great for volunteer outreach.
2) People should go directly to WD website to sign up for inserts: https://windowdressers.org. The build will be Oct 23-28 at First Congregational Church in Manchester Village. Load-in will be October 22.
New Business:
- Legislative Update on Energy matters:
H. 600: Appliance Efficiency: adopt appliance efficiency standards. No cross over.
H. 601: Allow nuclear energy to count as “renewable”. No cross over.
H. 710: Single Plant – “Smart Growth for Solar” – to allow additions to solar arrays without re-applying for permits, etc. Passed the House. Now in Senate Finance Committee
H. 740: GHG Emissions Reporting and Inventory to provide a statewide standard to assess same; in committee. Now in Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee
S. 170/ H. 716: Net Metering Rate Freeze; No cross over.
S. 202/ H. 598: Portable Solar, aka. “balcony solar”; passed Senate; passed House.
S. 205/H 727 site data centers responsibly; both in committee. Crossed over.
S. 270: Right to Charge (vehicles) for people living in apartment complexes, etc. developer to supply charging station(s) for EVs. No cross over.
- AEC Membership Changes
Jenny Murtaugh’s resignation letter accepted and the AEC acknowledged all that she contributed to the AEC; Bill Laberge is changing primary residency to NY, but keeping home in Arlington; can he stay on committee and vote? Steph will ask SB.
- Select Board Meeting Attendance
Steph and Joni for April 6. May – MAH
Other:
Motion to adjourn: MAH moves; Joni 2nd. Meeting adjourned: 7:08pm
Next meeting: May 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Minutes prepared by Secretary Mary Anne Holmes