EC Minutes 09-18-20237800 Golden Valley Road 1 Golden Valley, MN 55427 C i f it
763-593-80271 TTY 763-593-3968 1763-593-8198 (fax)1 www.goldenvalleymn.gov .,901dM
valley
Environmental Commission y
September 18, 2023 — 6:30 pm
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting vid vveuex by calling 1-415-655-
0001 and entering access code 1773 93 4642.
Questions/Comments: Members of the public who have questions about the commission or any
items on the agenda should contact the staff commission liaison — Eric Eckman, Environmental
Resources Supervisor, eeckman@goldenvalleymn.gov, 763-593-8084.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Hill at 6:30 pm.
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Dawn Hill, Wendy Weirich, Tonia Galonska, Sarah Drawz, Paul Klaas, Ellen
Brenna
Commissioners absent: Debra Yahle
Council Members present: None
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist;
Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant.
4. Approval of September 18, 2023, Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the agenda for
September 18, 2023, and the motion carried.
S. Approval of August 28, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Klaas to approve the minutes of
August 28, 2023, as submitted and the motion carried.
6. Old Business
A. Land Acknowledgement - Halia Wakpadar) / Bassett Creek and BAEGV Forum
i. Special/Joint Commission meeting with DEIC
1. Chairs from the DEIC and EC can declare a special (joint) meeting. We just need
enough time to inform the commissioners and the public.
ii. Upcoming regular meetings
1. The EC did not decide to cancel any upcoming regular meetings at this time.
ThiLmay
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 2
September 18, 2023 — 6:30 pm
7. New Business
A. Energy Action Plan Progress
I. Staff reviewed the 2022 data from CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy found in the
September 18, 2023 agenda packet.
ii. The City does not get credit for GHG emissions reductions resulting from ongoing
decarbonization of the grid by Xcel Energy as it adds wind and solar. It's through
program participation in efficiency and clean energy programs.
iii. The data show all sectors in Golden Valley — Residential, Commercial, Municipal.
iv. Reps from Xcel & CenterPoint helped the Energy Action Team set the goals.
v. Xcel Energy is decarbonizing the grid. Trying to go carbon free by 2050, 80% carbon
reduction by 2030. Even if we did nothing there might be a 30% reduction in our carbon
emissions in GV just for being part of the conversion to electricity and cleaning of the
grid. The community's goal is to reduce GHG emissions by another 30% beyond what
Xcel Energy is doing.
vi. Consumption may vary from year to year and is hopefully trending down, but the only
way to track what the savings are and the avoidance of GHG emissions is through signing
up for programs because Xcel and CenterPoint don't know what you're doing in your
house unless you tell them.
vii. Xcel doesn't include transportation emissions reductions in their numbers.
viii. It does get harder to increase eliminations over time.
ix. We would like residents in GV to participate in the net metering program through Xcel if
they install solar.
x. Program participation is the predictor of long-term trends; the annual reporting data are
the proof of whether the programs are working or not.
xi. We are falling a little behind on the first -year energy savings. This is calculated by
looking at how much you saved on your energy bill the year after you made the change.
They don't track your savings in the years following (even though you are likely to save
money past year one).
xii. The Energy Burdened household goal does not include participation in CenterPoint
programs. Only Xcel.
1. There has been a lot of staff outreach through mailings, online posts, event
tabling, presentations to property managers, and others.
2. 1 in 5 homes were experiencing energy burden going into the pandemic. We
think that number went up in the years following, but we do not have the data
yet.
3. High energy cost burden is when 6% of your income goes to energy costs. Severe
energy cost burden is when 10% of your income goes to energy costs.
4. We signed up to be a part of the programs that help the energy burdened
households.
xiii. We'll see more significant savings and energy reduction if we focus on businesses.
1. One business signed up for CenterPoint energy's audit in 2022. Why are there
not more?
2. Could we get rid of the word audit and rebrand it?
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 3
September 18, 2023 — 6:30 pm
3. Businesses scared off by the words "green" and "environmental"?
4. Youth seems to be much more effective when visiting businesses. Could our
GreenCorps member or an intern visit businesses frequently?
1. GreenCorps member can educate but not assist for -profit businesses, but
they can assist schools and non-profit organizations.
2. Downplay the government angle? Discuss short and longterm return on
investment. Play up relationships like private to private or private to
utility.
5. Could the City ask Xcel or CenterPoint to pick a business to walk through the
assessment process (and improvement process) to make an example of and show
other businesses what's involved and what the benefits could be to their bottom
line?
1. Could the City do the same thing for the HERO program?
6. At a future commission meeting, discuss whether City funds should go toward
incentivizing businesses and multi -family properties.
xiv. We are now a graduate program of the Partners in Energy program.
B. Home Energy Squad Renewal
MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to recommend renewal
of the Home Energy Squad Agreement with the Center for Energy and Environment for another
two years, with a total reimbursement budget of $3.0,000 for the contract term, and the motion
carried.
C. Program/Project Updates
L Can we share the statewide GreenStep Cities update on the City website?
D. Council Updates
L None
E. Other Business
i. The Outdoor Lighting ordinance discussion is tabled and can be considered as part of the
2024 Work Plan.
8. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Klaas, seconded by Commissioner Drawz to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 pm
and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
co� A"A n Y.
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Dawn Hill, Chair