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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 06/13/2023APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2023 7:00 P.M. Heritage Rooms 1&2 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Laura Bishop, Tim Conners, Gretchen Enninga, Cindy Hoffman, Moussa Ousmane, Carolyn Wieland, Michelle Frost, Jim Nehl CITY STAFF: Jennifer Fierce, Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Poock called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Absent were Commissioners Hoffman, Conners, and Bishop. [Frost arrived at 7:25 p.m.] II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Enninga moved, seconded by Nehl to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 8, 2022 MEETING MOTION: Nehl moved, seconded by Wieland to approve the minutes from the May 9, 2023 meeting. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE Fierce displayed a PowerPoint and stated the last legislative session was the most transformative clean energy and climate action session that had ever happened. She recapped the highlights of the legislation, including: The state of Minnesota now has an official goal to become carbon neutral by 2050, relying on 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040, and 80 Sustainability Commission Minutes June 13, 2023 Page 2 percent by 2030. 55 percent would come from renewables like solar and wind by 2035. Community Solar Garden Changes: Max project size was increased to five megawatts (MW), instead of the current one MW. Residents no longer had to be in a contiguous county to the garden to subscribe. New caps on total CSG approved each year, and 30 percent of subscribers had to be low median income (LMI) and an additional 25 percent had to be public entities or affordable housing providers. There are also changes to bill credit calculations and the program will be consolidate into one bill instead of getting separate bills from the utility and garden developer. Grants for Climate Planning and Implementation: 5 million in grants for cities to develop and implement CAP plans was approved, cities are required to have a 50% match. Ended HOA bans on rooftop solar: Nullified any covenant or restriction that prohibits installation of solar on HOA properties. System still must meet Building Code, with the owner responsible for maintenance and removal. Statewide Commercial Building Energy Benchmarking: All commercial buildings statewide greater than 100,000+ sf have to complete energy benchmarking and disclose annual energy usage by 2025 and 50,000+ sf buildings must disclose by 2026. EV and Electric Bike Rebates: $2,500 rebate for new EV with MSRP under $55,000 and $600 rebate for lessees and used EV purchases under $25,000. Rebates provided at point of sale. Funding also allocated for a $1,500 rebate for eBikes. Residential Electrical Panel Grants: $6.5 million in grants available for panel upgrades. Having an undersized electrical panel can be a roadblock to home electrification. Multifamily buildings are also eligible. Air Source Heat Pump Rebate: $7 million for creating and implanting an ASHP rebate program. Residents would become eligible through a required energy audit. Rebate amount is $4,000 or remaining cost to purchase/install after IRA rebate (whichever was lesser). Sustainability Commission Minutes June 13, 2023 Page 3 Commercial Energy Code: By 2036 code would have to achieve 80 percent reduction in annual net energy consumption from 2004 baseline. EV Ready Building Code: Updates to state code to require minimum number of EV ready, capable, or charging stations with new commercial/MF development. Does not include one-to-four-unit homes. DLI workgroup to determine specific charging requirements. Discussion followed on the legislation. 2. SUSTAINABILITY EVENTS RECAPS AND FUTURE EVENT PLANNING Fierce stated the Electrify Everything workshop had 20 participants with a diverse mix of knowledge levels, and went well. She anticipated another workshop in the fall. The pollinator planning event had 30-35 participants and Fierce hoped for a survey follow-up to determine value to residents. The EV Event date was set for September 12 at Staring Lake, so there would be no commission meeting that month. PeopleFest would be held on July 30 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.. Fierce explained the commission could have a table or participate in the Human Library activity. Poock suggested the commissioners tour of Eden Prairie water treatment facilities at some point. Discussion followed on a timeline. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION Fierce stated there would be 12 student commission members beginning this September. Discussion followed on the process of choosing student representatives. 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE Sustainability Commission Minutes June 13, 2023 Page 4 4. ENERGY UPDATE V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in the Heritage Rooms 1&2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Enninga moved, seconded by Nehl to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.