Acton Climate Action Team

16-Jun-2004

Minutes of the sixth meeting of ACAT: Acton Climate Action Team

Attending:

School Update

Steve. Spoke with Marie Alteria. Should the goal be a top down or bottom-up approach? Top down was the answer, though Steve Desy is moving on.
Definitely Top Down with Town Manager (Don Johnson) and School Superintendent (Bill Ryan). Meet with them together because we will get more buy-in.
Green buildings has come up with a bunch of town buildings. The schools with lots of recent big construction projects, likely to make operational changes, instead of capital improvements. It would be really good to show examples from other Towns.
Need emphasize cost and environmental benefits.
Ryan and Johnson could help us create a resolution.
Meet in July or August
Action item. Jim should call Jeff Vandegrift. (Why is Jim calling Jeff? Can’t remember.)
Action item. Tom will find a couple examples of Schools doing green upgrades.

Chamber of Commerce Update

Dana sent an e-mail, to do a workshop to save energy. Bring in NSTAR / Keyspan.
Got in touch with Bonnie Cameron Exec Dir. Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce.
Dana wants language on what would NSTAR do if they came in.
Action Item: Dana will follow-up with Chamber and will check out this web-site of things that NSTAR could potentially do. http://www.nstaronline.com/your_business/electricprograms.asp
Action Item: Dana will follow-up with Chamber.

Town Update

Solid waste & GHG discussion

Let looks at how recycling reduces GHGs. Takes 90% less energy to recycle an aluminum can.
Action Item Steve send the URL of EPA WARM model. WAste Reduction Model.

Presidential Update

President Reagan’s passing was noted as was the unusual day of mourning for Federal and State offices on Friday.

DEP Grant

Status of a grant program to help municipalities with the climate action actions.
Steve will find out more info from Lori Segall. (Tom just heard from Lori that it is held up in State bureaucracy).

Discussion of EPA & DEP Office Politics.

Membership / Meeting Dates / Town Resolution?

Do we need more people? Is Warren Leon still interested in participating?
What is going to be effective? Is there some political movement we will need more people?
Steve, suggests when we get a plan and priorities, we might need more people.
Steve likes the idea of getting a resolution passed at Town Meeting.
Adam asks have other Towns got mileage out of the resolution?
Steve willing to explore what the process will be to get a resolution?
Guiding principle of energy efficiency / life-cycle cost considerations could be included might be included in the Master Plan.
Adam prefers to start with efforts that concrete results, if we have to decide where to put our finite efforts.
Dean complained about not getting money a HVAC system for Community Supper.
Next meeting Monday August 2. 7:30 pm.
Action Item Jim will Invite Chris Schaffner to speak / special guest star at August 2 meeting.

Short Term Priorities

Action Item: Matt will call Bruce Stamsky.
Action Item: Steve will investigate Town Resolution. Tom is willing to help with