2020 Year In Review
2020 Summary Submitted to the City Annual Report
The Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee was founded in 2010 to act in an advisory capacity to the City Council on energy issues. MEAC identifies and nurtures energy saving projects and opportunities; informs and engages city residents on energy issues; and partners with other statewide groups to foster projects that reduce Montpelier’s energy use or help to meet its energy needs from renewables. MEAC meets the third Tuesday of every month at 7pm and the public is welcome.
In 2020, MEAC was only able to meet twice in person (MEAC continues to meet monthly via Zoom), and all in-person committee activity was suspended in the spring. Despite these setbacks, work on energy projects has continued:
Organics to Energy: Major upgrades to the Water Resource Recovery Facility are underway and MEAC supported City staff in evaluating the options for “Phase 2” – determining the best use of the methane produced, which is currently burned off (flared). This has resulted in a decision to install a cogeneration system which will produce heat and electricity. The heat will be supplied to buildings at the WRRF facility on Dog River Road, and the electricity will be sold to Green Mountain Power through a Power Purchase Agreement. This project is anticipated to produce over 3 megawatt hours of renewable electricity annually, and also eliminate fossil fuel use for heating at the WRRF facility.
Window Dressers: In January 2020, MEAC-led volunteers built 150 window inserts for over 40 families in a community workshop through the Window Dressers program (a nonprofit based in Maine). It was a great success and we hope to offer the program again in 2021 and partner with other Central Vermont towns.
Energy Disclosure Ordinance: MEAC has been working to develop an ordinance which will require homeowners to disclose energy use information about their home when a property is listed for sale. This ordinance will help sellers highlight the value of energy efficiency investments they have made in their homes, and allow buyers to compare energy costs of various properties, much like the MPG rating on a vehicle sticker. We worked closely with Efficiency Vermont and the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP) to develop and test an online energy modeling system to help homeowners rate the efficiency of their home.
Revolving Loan Fund: Two projects were completed in 2020 using revolving loan funding – weatherstripping all overhead doors in all municipal buildings, and completing the air sealing and weatherstripping of all the windows in City Hall. Since it was started in 2016, the fund has invested $24,000 in energy efficiency projects and has already generated more than $30,000 in cost savings.
Net Zero 2030 Action Plan: MEAC supported City staff in developing an RFP for consultants to help develop a plan to move municipal buildings and operations off fossil fuels by 2030. The committee reviewed proposals and has recommended that Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) be selected. MEAC will work closely with City staff and the consulting team in 2021 to develop a detailed plan which addresses electrical efficiency opportunities, heating of municipal buildings, and transition of the vehicle and equipment fleet off fossil fuels. MEAC has worked closely with City staff to develop baseline data on municipal energy use and greenhouse gas emissions since FY11.