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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 07/11/2023APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 11, 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 Acting Chair Wieland called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Absent were commission members Enninga and Bishop. [Poock arrived at 7:03 p.m.] II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Nehl moved, seconded by Conners to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JUNE 13, 2023 MEETING MOTION: Nehl moved, seconded by Conners to approve the minutes from the June 13, 2023 meeting. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. GREEN POWER PURCHASE CAMPAIGN PLANNING Fierce displayed a PowerPoint of Xcel participation data and gave an update on resident participation. Windsource was the most utilized green power purchase program, with residential Windsource showing it highest participation in 2021 (1,457 households) with 1,409 households in 2022. Business Windsource showed a peak in 2020 (11 businesses) with nine businesses participating in 2021 and 2022. Renewable Connect residential also peaked in 2018 (59 households) with 54 participating in 2021 and 55 Sustainability Commission Minutes July 11, 2023 Page 2 in 2022. Renewable Connect business participation held steady across 2018-2022 at two businesses. The cost for household was roughly $5.00 a month. A green power purchase campaign was identified as an action in the Climate Action Plan as well as the Commission’s Annual Work Plan. Discussion followed on the benefits of Windsource, community solar, and rooftop solar. [Hoffman arrived at 7:11 p.m.] Fierce stated she wished to gather information from the commission members about their goals for the Green Power Purchase Campaign. Discussion followed on signing up for Windsource versus community solar. Fierce stated community solar was more difficult to explain to consumers, despite its cost savings. Windsource was perceived as more convenient for an average resident, but there were residents for whom an additional $5.00 was a burden. Nehl stated there would be residents who buy in to “go green,” others to save money, et cetera. Hoffman added the drawback to community solar was that there was not a critical mass to serve the residents. Conners replied if residents did not buy in, community solar would never increase. Hoffman stated the target for this campaign was therefore those who were willing to take the first step toward green energy, community solar is more for those who were further along in the process of converting. Wieland suggested college graduates might be more informed about sustainable practices, whereas those who were not as informed might be the target of this information. Ousmane urged the commission to be inclusive. Nehl suggested targeting all Eden Prairie households. Hoffman stated she would like to target multifamily units as well, but single-family households might be the best candidate for initial outreach. Nehl asked for and received confirmation this program was also available for apartments. Wieland suggested educating landlords, who could then inform renters. Fierce stated one goal was to put information on the Eden Prairie website, which rendered information easily translatable to other languages. Nehl suggested a pilot program targeting residents and business owners. Discussion followed on potential business partners. Poock stated that doubling the percentage of participating residents in a year could be a goal. Discussion followed on this. Fierce suggested a time frame of two to five years. Sustainability Commission Minutes July 11, 2023 Page 3 2. EV SHOWCASE EVENT PLANNING Fierce stated the name was changed for more flexibility. The event was set for September 12 at Staring Lake Park, replacing the September commission meeting. Fierce pointed out on an online map where she planned for the display to be. Discussion followed on whether to incorporate the amphitheater and to involve the new student representatives. 3. GRADUATION SIGN RECYCLING RECAP Fierce stated a former PTA parent had approached her regarding bringing this program to Eden Prairie. A small business in Mound took signs and broke them down for reuse. This was promoted via email and social media, and the city collected 26 signs, which meant 11.375 pounds of actual sign material and 4.55 pounds of sign base. Fierce stated the oldest sign collected was from 2020. The recycling drop-off days were an option for this, but Fierce had to arrange the delivery of the signs. As such, a county drop-off site was the preferred option moving forward if possible. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR Poock stated he had been doing research on the remaining time on oil reserves (57 years at 1.7 trillion barrels) and natural gas (70 years). He acknowledged the use of natural gas and oil by electric cars at present, which would hopefully change in the future. Poock stated this showed the need for the Sustainability Commission. Discussion followed on Clean Energy Resource Teams. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS • Tuesday, September 12 – EV Showcase Event, 4 to 7 PM • Saturday, September 16 – Fall Recycling Drop Off, 8 AM to Noon VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, August 8, 2023, in the Heritage Rooms 1&2. Sustainability Commission Minutes July 11, 2023 Page 4 VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Nehl moved, seconded by Hoffman to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m.