Energy Advisory Committee

ENERGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT

DOCUMENTS/EXHIBITS USED AT MEETING:

Quick recap

The March meeting of the energy committee focused primarily on two key topics: EV policy and EV charging infrastructure. Chris presented findings that the city's current EV charging stations are losing money due to outdated pricing models and high operational costs, with charges of $1 per hour compared to market rates of $1.50-$2.12 per kilowatt hour. The committee discussed plans to meet with the parking office to address these issues and explore options for improving the charging system, including potential partnerships with companies like Lynkwell. Don provided an update on solar projects, reporting that the Youth Service Center PBA was approved by the Government Committee with a favorable 20-year rate of either 5 or 10 cents per kilowatt hour, expected to save over $250,000 over the contract period. The meeting also covered ongoing issues with the Colonial Power solar aggregation contract and potential green communities grant applications for various municipal buildings.

Next steps

•Chris: Visit DPS to informally chat with city mechanics about their EV maintenance capabilities and experience, and report back.

•Molly : Ping Kim Turner at DPS again for feedback on maintenance capabilities and whether city mechanics can work on EVs, and seek introduction if needed.

•Chris and Molly: Prepare questions and attend meeting with the parking office on Monday at 9am to discuss current EV charging operations, pricing, contracts, and software/maintenance costs.

•Chris: Send out the latest EV policy document to all committee members for review.

•Chris: Research and update the group on available grants for EV charging infrastructure, including those from National Grid.

•Don: Ask Select (solar developer) for references of customers with solar canopies and for information on common issues (e.g., icicles, complaints, benefits), and share with the group.

•Don: Reach out to other energy managers who have experience with solar canopies for additional reference information.

•Molly: Send the Colonial Power community solar contract to Mike Spiro for legal review.

•Mike Spiro: Review the Colonial Power contract and provide feedback on risk allocation and responsibilities.

•Molly: Send the site survey information to Craig tomorrow for review and comparison with Linkwell proposal.

•Mike: Send more emails to remind/invite people to the "How to Power a City" movie event and manage the attendee list.

•Don: Confirm with Select whether the letter of intent and interconnection service application are sufficient for IRS tax credit purposes for the solar project.

•Molly: Talk to Mass Energize next week about the energy education project proposal for Green Communities grant.

•Molly: Prepare and submit the Green Communities grant proposal by April 10, including projects at Senior Community Center, high school gym, and educational project.

•Don: Coordinate with Select and city staff to ensure solar canopy project at Senior Center moves forward, including gathering input on desired features (e.g., LED lights) and stakeholders to consult.

•Don: Follow up with Josh (and team) to determine why energy consumption at the cutter station is higher than expected and report findings.

Summary

EV Policy and Charging Implementation

Chris and Molly presented on EV policy and charging in the city, explaining that an EV-first policy is needed to meet requirements for Massachusetts Climate Leader designation, which would open funding opportunities. The policy has been refined and is being circulated to stakeholders, with most departments providing feedback except for Kim Turner at DPS regarding maintenance and mechanical capabilities. Chris noted that while the city's vehicle inventory is relatively small (22 vehicles that make sense for electrification), there are concerns about mechanical training and certification requirements for working on EVs, particularly regarding sensors and diagnostic systems.

City EV Charging Infrastructure Analysis

Chris presented findings on the city's current EV charging infrastructure, revealing that the city is losing money on every charging session due to high electricity costs compared to revenue ($1 per hour). The presentation detailed various operational costs including platform fees ($200-$500 annually), maintenance ($500-$800 annually), and potential repairs ($300-$1,500). The discussion also covered the need to gather more information about vendor reporting capabilities and communication methods for future charging station considerations.

EV Charging Revenue Optimization Discussion

The team discussed issues with the city's EV charging stations, including unclear billing structures, high idle times, and potential revenue losses due to outdated pricing models. They identified the need to meet with the parking office on Monday to understand the history behind the $1-per-hour charging rate and explore options for improving revenue and asset utilization. The group also discussed potential solutions, such as implementing time limits and adjusting pricing to better reflect market rates, while considering the balance between attracting EV users and ensuring financial sustainability.

Electric Vehicle Charging Implementation Plan

The group discussed the challenges and opportunities around implementing electric vehicle charging stations in Newburyport. They explored various funding mechanisms, including grants in Massachusetts that require both public and municipal use, and considered a potential partnership with Lynkwell, which offers a turnkey 10-year solution covering software, maintenance, and revenue sharing. The team noted that private companies have been reluctant to invest in charging stations due to low traffic volumes and discussed the need for aggressive pricing to make the initiative viable. They planned to present their findings to the city council once all info is together.

Charging Station Idle Time Policies

The team discussed charging station idle time policies and signage. They reviewed different examples of city signage regarding idle time fees, with Mike suggesting that some charge points may automatically charge for idle time. The group agreed to simplify the signage approach, focusing on clear communication about the $1 per minute fee after 100% charge. They noted that while idle time charging can be profitable, it's important to balance fairness with revenue generation, particularly given that Tesla owners already pay higher rates at home.

Electric Vehicle and Solar Updates

The group discussed electric vehicle charging costs and management, with Molly reporting a rate of 57 cents per kilowatt hour at a Tesla charger. They explored the possibility of transitioning from current charging management to a third-party provider like Lynkwell to handle installation, management, and operations. Don provided an update on solar projects, announcing that the Newburyport Youth Service Center PPA received city council approval with a favorable rate of either 5 or 10 cents per kilowatt hour, estimated to save $250,000 over 20 years. The team also discussed potential solar canopies at various locations, though concerns were raised about potential issues like snow and ice and parking lot maintenance.

Solar Installation and Energy Planning

The group discussed solar canopy installations and energy management, with Mike Spiro mentioning a canopy company he plans to research and share details about later. They reviewed the performance of the Cutter Station solar installation, which is consuming more energy than predicted due to issues like equipment left running. The discussion also covered a 20-year lease agreement for solar installations at 59 Low Street, which was approved unanimously by subcommittee and will move forward to council. Finally, they addressed concerns about a solar aggregation contract with Colonial Power regarding low-income households, with questions about responsibility for penalties if enrollment targets are not met.

Community Solar and Grant Projects

The group discussed a community solar contract issue, with Mike Spiro expressing confidence that the community solar company would typically handle fees but offering to review the contract if Molly sends it. They reviewed three proposed projects for a green community grant due April 10th, including wireless controls for a Senior Community Center, a variable speed drive project at the high school gym, and an educational energy project focusing on churches and nonprofits. The discussion also covered potential energy savings opportunities in the water and wastewater treatment processes, though challenges were noted due to the departments' focus on water quality over energy efficiency.