HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-12-24 SB Agenda and Packet MaterialsA. Call to Order - 6:00 PM
B. Disclosures
C. Changes to the Agenda
D. Approval of Minutes
D.1 Approve the May 8, 2024 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes (Chipouras)
E. Public Comments
THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARD OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA
SB AGENDA
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
General information about the Sustainability Board can be found in our Laserfiche repository.
If you are interested in commenting in writing on items on the agenda please send an email to
comments@bozeman.net or by visiting the Public Comment Page prior to 12:00pm on the day of the
meeting.
Public comments will also be accepted in-person and through Video Conference during the appropriate
agenda items.
As always, the meeting will be streamed through the Commission's video page and available in the
City on cable channel 190.
For more information please contact Jon Henderson, jon.henderson@bozeman.net
This meeting will be held both in-person and also using an online videoconferencing system. You
can join this meeting:
Via Video Conference:
Click the Register link, enter the required information, and click submit.
Click Join Now to enter the meeting.
Via Phone: This is for listening only if you cannot watch the stream, channel 190, or attend in-
person
United States Toll
+1 346 248 7799
Access code: 934 9305 9514
Approve the May 8, 2024 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes.
This is the time to comment on any matter falling within the scope of the Sustainability Board.
There will also be time in conjunction with each agenda item for public comment relating to that
item but you may only speak once per topic. Please note, the Board cannot take action on any
item which does not appear on the agenda. All persons addressing the Board shall speak in a civil
and courteous manner and members of the audience shall be respectful of others. Please state
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F. Action Items
F.1 Energy Efficiency Block Grant Application Recommendation to Expand Rooftop Solar PV at
the Bozeman Public Library(Meyer)
G. FYI/Discussion
G.1 Green Power Program Overview and Updates (Meyer)
H. Adjournment
your name and place of residence in an audible tone of voice for the record and limit your
comments to three minutes.
General public comments to the Board can be found on their Laserfiche repository page.
Support the staff recommendation to submit an Energy Efficiency Block Grant application to expand
rooftop solar PV at the Bozeman Public Library.
This board generally meets on the second Wednesday of the month 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Citizen Advisory Board meetings are open to all members the public. If you have a disability that
requires assistance, please contact our ADA Coordinator, Mike Gray, at 582-3232 (TDD 582-2301).
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Memorandum
REPORT TO:Sustainability Board
FROM:Ali Chipouras, Sustainability Program Specialist
Natalie Meyer, Sustainability Program Manager
Jon Henderson, Strategic Services Director
SUBJECT:Approve the May 8, 2024 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes
MEETING DATE:June 12, 2024
AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Minutes
RECOMMENDATION:Approve the May 8, 2024 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes.
STRATEGIC PLAN:1.2 Community Engagement: Broaden and deepen engagement of the
community in city government, innovating methods for inviting input from
the community and stakeholders.
BACKGROUND:In accordance with Commission Resolution 5323 and the City of Bozeman's
Citizen Advisory Board Manual, all Boards must have minutes taken and
approved. Prepared minutes will be provided for approval by the board at
the next scheduled meeting. Staff will make any corrections identified to the
minutes before submitting them to the City Clerk's Office.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES:None.
ALTERNATIVES:As suggested by the Board.
FISCAL EFFECTS:None.
Attachments:
05-08-2024 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes.pdf
Report compiled on: June 7, 2024
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Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting Minutes, 5/8/24
Page 1 of 3
THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA
MINUTES
5/8/2024
General information about the Sustainability Board can be found in our Laserfiche repository.
A) 00:50:32 Call to Order - 6:00 PM Present: Emma Bode, Rebecca Kurnick, Kristin Blackler, Terry Cunningham, Brooke Lahneman, Kalani
Goodhard
Absent: Nathan Gracey
B) 00:52:41 Disclosures
• There were no disclosures.
C) 00:52:41 Changes to the Agenda
• There were no changes to the agenda.
D) 00:52:55 Approval of Minutes
D.1 Approve the April 10, 2024 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes
04-10-2024 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes.pdf
-00:00:01 Motion to approve
Kalani Goodhard: Motion
Kristin Blackler: 2nd
00:54:19 Vote on the Motion to approve The Motion carried 5 - 0.
Approve:
Emma Bode
Rebecca Kurnick
Kristin Blackler
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Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting Minutes, 5/8/24
Page 2 of 3
Brooke Lahneman
Kalani Goodhard
Disapprove:
None
E) 00:59:11 Public Comments
• Kathy Powell commented on proposing a solar access code.
F) 01:04:32 Special Presentations
F.1 01:05:17 Water Conservation Program Update
• Water Conservation Program Manager Jessica Ahlstrom provided an update on the Water
Conservation program and implementation of the Water Efficient and Irrigation Design
Standards.
G) 01:49:08 Action Items
G.1 01:49:25 Sustainability Advisory Board Resolution 2024-01, Recognizing Anne
Ready and the Gallatin Valley Earth Day Organization Volunteers
Sustainability Board Resolution 2024-01 Gallatin Valley Earth Day.pdf
01:53:47 Motion to approve Sustainability Advisory Board Resolution 2024-01, Recognizing Anne Ready
and the Gallatin Valley Earth Day Organization Volunteers.
Kalani Goodhard: Motion
Rebecca Kurnick: 2nd
01:56:37 Vote on the Motion to approve Sustainability Advisory Board Resolution 2024-01, Recognizing
Anne Ready and the Gallatin Valley Earth Day Organization Volunteers. The Motion carried 5 - 0.
Approve:
Emma Bode
Rebecca Kurnick
Kristin Blackler
Brooke Lahneman
Kalani Goodhard
Disapprove:
None
H) 01:49:23 FYI/Discussion
• Sustainability Specialist Ali Chipouras provided FYI about recent contractor trainings for
residential energy efficiency and heat pump water heaters.
• Strategic Services Director Jon Henderson shared information about a recent compost tour City
staff and board members attended.
• Advisory Board member Kristin Blackler provided an update on the Go Gallatin Challenge.
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Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting Minutes, 5/8/24
Page 3 of 3
H.1 02:01:18 Local Food System Preliminary Mapping Project Report
Local Food Systems Preliminary Mapping Project_Report_DRAFT.pdf
Local Food System Preliminary Mapping Project_Appendix_DRAFT.pdf
• Sustainability Specialist Ali Chipouras and Consultants Kate Burnaby Wright and Maclaren Latta
provided an update on the draft report for the Local Food System Preliminary Mapping Project.
• Becky Weed provided public comment.
I) 02:54:58 Adjournment
This board generally meets on the second Wednesday of the month 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
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Memorandum
REPORT TO:Sustainability Board
FROM:Natalie Meyer, Sustainability Program Manager
Jon Henderson, Strategic Services Director
SUBJECT:Energy Efficiency Block Grant Application Recommendation to Expand
Rooftop Solar PV at the Bozeman Public Library
MEETING DATE:June 12, 2024
AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Grant
RECOMMENDATION:Support the staff recommendation to submit an Energy Efficiency Block
Grant application to expand rooftop solar PV at the Bozeman Public Library.
STRATEGIC PLAN:6.3 Climate Action: Reduce community and municipal Greenhouse Gas
(GHG) emissions, increase the supply of clean and renewable energy; foster
related businesses.
BACKGROUND:The City of Bozeman is eligible to receive a grant allocation from the
Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant for
$116,320. The goal of the program is to reduce energy use, fossil fuel
emissions, and improve energy efficiency. A wide range of program activities
are eligible under the program, such as energy audits, building retrofits,
public education, electric vehicles, and more. There is no project match
requirement. The application deadline was recently extended from April 30,
2024, to October 31, 2024. The Department of Energy is offering an EECBG
equipment voucher program to help reduce the administrative burden of the
program. Submitting a voucher application requires project details that
necessitate preliminary project design work.
The City of Bozeman received a similar allocation in 2009 from the
Department of Energy, which was used to install energy-efficient lighting in
several city buildings, a bus shelter, and a utility tracking application.
The Bozeman Climate Plan calls for 100% net clean electricity by 2025
(Action 2.F.1). The City of Bozeman's Capital Improvement Plan includes
funding to purchase the 385 kW solar array at the Water Reclamation
Facility (FY24), gaining the economic and environmental benefits for the
community, in addition to installations at the Story Mill Community Center
(FY25), the Bozeman Public Library (FY25), City Hall (FY26), the Professional
Building (FY26), and Vehicle Maintenance (FY26).
These projects will result in long-term environmental and financial savings
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for the Bozeman community. Leveraging federal funding in support of these
community investments in rooftop solar PV is well-aligned with EECBG
program requirements and the staff work plan. The staff recommendation is
to use the EECBG allocation to upgrade the existing solar PV at the Bozeman
Public Library from approximately 16.7 kW to 60 kW (DC).
Natalie Meyer, Sustainability Program Manager, will present an overview of
the EECBG program criteria and the proposed solar project for the Bozeman
Public Library.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES:None.
ALTERNATIVES:As recommended by the Board.
FISCAL EFFECTS:There is no EECBG project match requirement. Funding solar PV at the
Bozeman Public Library will result in capital savings for the General Fund and
electric utility bill savings of up to 18% at the Bozeman Public Library.
Report compiled on: June 7, 2024
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Memorandum
REPORT TO:Sustainability Board
FROM:Natalie Meyer, Sustainability Program Manager
Jon Henderson, Strategic Services Director
SUBJECT:Green Power Program Overview and Updates
MEETING DATE:June 12, 2024
AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Policy Discussion
RECOMMENDATION:Green Power Program Overview and Updates
STRATEGIC PLAN:6.3 Climate Action: Reduce community and municipal Greenhouse Gas
(GHG) emissions, increase the supply of clean and renewable energy; foster
related businesses.
BACKGROUND:On December 16, 2019, the City of Bozeman adopted Resolution 5118 which
included a community-wide provisional goal of achieving 100% net clean
electricity by 2030. On December 22, 2020, this goal was formally advanced
under Resolution 5248 with the adoption of the 2020 Bozeman Climate Plan.
The Climate Plan highlights the critical importance of advancing clean
electricity to achieve carbon neutrality and support community resilience.
On February 2, 2021, the Bozeman City Commission approved an Interlocal
Agreement with other Montana communities to guide the development of a
Green Power Program (formerly known as a renewable rate option or a
green tariff) with NorthWestern Energy, Bozeman’s primary electric utility
provider. On May 14, 2024, the Bozeman City Commission approved an
Updated Interlocal Agreement.
A Green Power Program refers to the option for customers of regulated
utilities to buy electricity from newly developed renewable energy sources
through a special rate ("tariff") on their utility bills. The local government’s
goals for the Green Power Program include 1) that it results in the
development of a new utility-scale renewable energy in the state of
Montana, 2) that the Green Power Program contract terms and eligibility
requirements make it accessible and attractive to as many NorthWestern
customers as possible, and 3) that it does not negatively impact
nonparticipating customers. Under the Interlocal Agreement, the
communities competitively selected Energy Strategies as a third-party
consultant to help advise the communities on utility rate design to help
inform the development of NorthWestern’s Green Power Program.
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Program Overview
The lead communities of the City of Bozeman, City of Missoula, and Missoula
County have continued to work with NorthWestern over the past several
years to develop the Green Power Program. The program is a key strategy
for the lead communities to reach their respective 100% clean electricity
goals. The Green Power Program would allow NorthWestern customers to
support and benefit from a new source of renewable energy in Montana,
such as a new wind or solar farm. Local governments, businesses, and
residents would then have the option to subscribe to pay a special rate that
includes costs and credits for the electric generation from this renewable
energy resource. By subscribing to the program, customers would pay the
costs of the new renewable energy source over time and receive the
benefits it produces, including the environmental benefits and the clean
energy’s economic value on the market. Public information for the Green
Power Program is available on the City of Bozeman's website.
On November 28, 2023, the Bozeman City Commission approved the Green
Power Program Term Sheet with NorthWestern Energy, which outlined the
foundational program design. Adoption of the Lead Community Agreement
is the next step in the approval process before filing with the Montana Public
Service Commission. The Lead Community Agreement is a binding
agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities, including renewable
resource Request for Proposal (RFP) cost obligations, to ensure no cost-
shifting to non-participating customers.
Sustainability Program Manager, Natalie Meyer, will present background on
the Green Power Program background and provide an update on the
timeline for the adoption of the Lead Community Agreement, and
subsequent next steps. Staff will seek input from the Sustainability Board on
outstanding questions or feedback on the program.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES:None.
ALTERNATIVES:As suggested by the Board.
FISCAL EFFECTS:Future approval of the Lead Community Agreement by the Bozeman City
Commission may result in a financial commitment if we later choose to
proceed with a Green Power Resource RFP and the RFP does not result in a
contract to develop a Green Power Resource. Under this scenario, the RFP
cost would be shared between the lead communities (City of Missoula,
Missoula County, and the City of Bozeman). If the RFP results in a project
and is approved through a Compliance Filing by the Montana Public Service
Commission, the costs associated with the RFP would be shared among
program subscribers. Subsequent participation in the Green Power Program
may result in a modest premium on the City of Bozeman's electric utility
bills, with the possibility of a net bill credit.
Report compiled on: June 7, 2024
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