Arlington Energy Committee
Minutes for Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Members Present, in person: Stephanie Moffett-Hynds, Mary Anne Holmes
Via Zoom: Joan Nash, Mary Ann Carlson, Mardi Crane
Absent: Alex Ernst, Garret Siegel, Bill Laberge
Also Present: Grace Katrick, town resident.
The meeting was called to order at 6:03 PM, by AEC Chair, Stephanie.
Additions to or Deletions from the Agenda:
Steph: discuss survey results.
Minutes of the previous meeting of April 1, 2026: MAC moved to approve the minutes. Joni seconded. Motion carried, all ayes.
Old Business:
- Update on Select Board re MERP grant for Town Hall & Garage
Mardi and Steph attended April 20th select board meeting to hear discussion of MERP grant status. They learned that the energy consultant, Centerline, recommends that the town not use the funds on the town garage doors, but rather to prioritize weatherizing the town hall first (attic insulation). Cynthia reported that the MERP administrators remain firm that the town also spend the funds on the purchase and installation of heat pumps in the town hall (as stipulated in the grant). The town plans to replace some windows, as well. Joni provided the Town Administrator (TA) with a list of HVAC and energy audit providers, as well as instructions on how to navigate the Efficiency Vermont website in an earlier SB meeting. Weatherizing the town hall has been a goal since Dec 2019, so it’s great news from Cynthia and the SB. Steph and Mardi repeated the offer of help now and when the new TA is on board.
- Update on Bylaws change sent to Select Board; Laberge status
Steph requested by-law change at Apr 20 SB mtg, that part-time residents may serve as voting members of the AEC. Approved by Select Board. Cynthia, TA, sent Steph the new by-laws. They also approved the addition of language that provides for an AEC vice-chair to lead the committee when the chair cannot.
Other boards, committees in town, allow both full-time and part-time residents to serve, so it was good to get the AEC’s bylaws updated to reflect this. The AEC is delighted that Bill Laberge, who is now a part-time resident, will be able to continue his service on the committee. With Jenny Murtaugh’s resignation, there is now a vacant seat on the committee.
MAH moved to nominate Joni as our vice-chair. Mardi seconded. Discussion: She’ll be great. All ayes. Motion accepted.
- Update on AEC website page
Karen Krulikowski will be helping with website reconstruction, including page for AEC. All info (warnings, agendas, minutes, etc.) are currently provided under the tab “The Latest” on the town website.
- AEC mentorships with AMHS
Manchester SB just passed a bylaw to have 2 student, voting members on their SB. Discussion of adding 1-2 seats on AEC for student voting members.
Grace Katrick shared her thoughts about what students could contribute: research, websites – ways to engage students. MAC: does the school have an Environmental group of any kind? There used to be a club, but nobody on the AEC knows whether it still exists since the teachers who used to guide it are not longer at the school. Grace explained that AMHS is experimenting w/groups of students who have common interests, but she doesn’t know whether any are focused on the environment.
- Update on WindowDressers
Bryan Dalton has been signing recipients up at the Arlington Food Shelf. Roger Hanson is the coordinator for the Northshire and will help us with tabling at events this year.
There are two different websites to keep in mind for WindowDressers:
1) To order window inserts, people should go directly to WD website: https://windowdressers.org. The build will be Oct 23-28 at First Congregational Church in Manchester Village. Load-in will be October 22.
2) Through SignUp.com, folks can sign up for the build sessions. This page is already live (earlier than previously). The signup address is: https://signup.com/go/mXGPVai.
There is also a flyer with a QR code that goes straight to the Northshire Build. This is great for volunteer outreach. Members of the committee are encouraged to go ahead and sign up.
New Business:
- Farmers Market Tabling
Potential activity: provide instructions/seeds for seed sprouting; jar is ~$1. Quart-size mason jar w/band, screen, a couple tablespoons of seed. Instruction sheet. List of places where to buy sprouting seeds.
Grace: have resources for builders, landlords. BCRC interfaces with landlords, including Balcony Solar. Where to get it, costs.
- Legislative Update on Energy matters:
| Bill # | Status |
| S. 170 Freeze net metering rates | Didn’t make crossover |
| S. 202 Allow plug-in solar | Passed 5/6 w/amendment; takes effect 7/1/26 |
| S. 219 Energy Navigators | Didn’t make crossover ($$) |
| H. 600 Appliance Efficiency | Didn’t make crossover |
| H. 601 denies climate change | Didn’t make crossover |
| H. 710 Single Plant | Now in Senate Comm. on Nat’l Resources & Energy |
| H. 718 Uniform Code (enforce Bldg Energy Codes | Now in Senate Comm. on Nat’l Resources & Energy |
| H. 727 Data Centers | Now in Senate Comm. on Nat’l Resources & Energy |
| H. 740 GHG Reporting & Inventory | Now in Senate Comm. on Nat’l Resources & Energy – $300,000 of the original $500,000 requested restored to bill. |
| H. 753 Utility service/ratepayer protections | Now in Senate Comm. on Finance |
| H. 767 Repeal Global Warming Solution’s Act | Didn’t make crossover |
| H. 863 EV charging accessibility | Didn’t make crossover |
Italics not supported by VNRC (VT Natural Resources Council; most state energy committees)
- Survey Results
The committee has an ongoing survey to gauge the interest of Arlingtonians in efficiency efforts residents would like to see the town promote. The survey sheets are now in the front hall of the Town Hall and there is an envelope there for submissions that the committee regularly checks.
So far, 13 have been turned in. Of those, 12 out of 13 recorded that the town’s becoming more energy-efficient is important (8 saying very important, 3 saying somewhat important). Of all the energy-related improvements they checked off, having solar panels on municipal buildings, community solar options for residents, and increased energy efficiency in public buildings came out on top. This was closely followed by the desire for more public EV charging stations and educational workshops on how to save on energy costs. Several said they would like to get involved with the AEC and/or on specific projects, so Stephanie will reach out to them.
There are many other revealing results, too numerous to include in the minutes. But the committee will continue to collect and analyze the responses.
Other:
A. Select Board Meeting Attendance
MAH will go May 18. Need to discuss June. Will Bill be able to attend?
B. Manchester Energy Fair May will be Saturday, May 16th, 11AM to 3PM at the Town Offices.
Motion to adjourn: MAC moves; Joni 2nd. Meeting adjourned: 7:40pm
Next meeting: June 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Minutes prepared by Secretary Mary Anne Holmes