Montpelier Energy Team :Homes/Weatherization

NEGEF Grant Application NEW ENGLAND GRASSROOTS

This is the final grant application which was submitted to the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund on February 15, 2010

Filename: MET_NEGEF_Small-grant_app__Feb15__2010.doc ( download )

Size: 124.5 KB

Document type: application/msword ( Replace description with document text )

DATE: February 15, 2010 CONTACT PERSON: Barry McPhee

(please list one person who will be available to answer questions)

NAME OF APPLICANT ORGANIZATION: The Montpelier Energy Team (MET)

ADDRESS: c/o 10 Winter St., Montpelier, VT

PRIMARY PHONE #: 229-5120 ALTERNATIVE PHONE #: 229-0049

EMAIL: montpelier.energy.team@gmail.com

WEBSITE: http://montpelierenergy.org/newwebsite/

AMOUNT OF THIS REQUEST: $2,500 TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET: $4,000

TOTAL CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET: $10,000, including Woodpellet Co-op

TOTAL AMOUNT YOUR ORGANIZATION SPENT LAST YEAR: $10,000

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, FULL AND/OR PART-TIME: 2 (largely volunteer)

PROJECT PROPOSAL SUMMARY (No more than 3 sentences – please start with, “To…”):

To assemble “Weatherization DIY Kits” consisting of the materials, tools, how-to information, and training for DIY-capable elements of weatherization, to distribute or sell around Montpelier for individual or group use. The target audience is low-middle-income Montpelier owners not qualified for low-income weatherization assistance, and middle-income owners who have had an energy audit but have not proceeded with weatherization measures. The goal is to enable more to surmount the financial and informational barriers to weatherization, while creating lasting local weatherization knowledge/resource networks among property owners.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT NEGEF? We are a Montpelier organization, whose leaders and members are acquainted with NEGEF personnel.

CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING THAT BEST APPLIES TO YOUR ORGANIZATION:

Ad Hoc group

Ad Hoc group with fiscal agent (name of agent): The Green Mountain Institute for Environmental Democracy

Incorporated as a nonprofit in your state

501(c)(3) status with the IRS

If you are an ad hoc group and do not have a checking account or fiscal agent, you will need to set up an account or agent upon receipt of a grant. You do NOT need to have an account or agent when you apply.

PROJECT NARRATIVE & BUDGET (no more than 2 pages please)

1. Give a brief description of your proposed project. Be sure to include background of the issue.

Project: Weatherization DIY Kit Deployment

Issue Background: In previous experience with the VCEM program and working with a BPI-certified weatherization contractor’s crew, MET observed weatherization customer demographics skewed toward early-adopter and higher-income groups; i.e. those who actively seek and/or can well afford these programs/services. Mainstream property owners were often on or near the fence vis-a-vis committing to weatherization but lacking a connection to providers or guidance. This Weatherization DIY Kit Deployment project was conceived to mass-produce the connections and guidance.

MET’s “Between The Cracks” program used local building professionals and neighborhood teams to help install weatherization strategies, but was loosely organized and went fallow when its unofficial leader left the region. This did however leave a list of willing homeowners that MET could prioritize in this proposed project’s pilot phase (details below). The Weatherization DIY Kit project, a proposal of recently-formed MET’s Weatherization Team, will pick up and strengthen this thread, via more well-defined planning, training, resources, and process.

This Project: A significant portion of a typical weatherization job can be completed by the homeowner; DIY resources exist to help them. These resources--the materials, tools, how-to guidance, information, and training--will be brought together as a “kit” and deployed around the City, to individuals or groups. MET Weatherization Team members would bulk-purchase of a mix of supplies; qualified homeowners, individually or in a group would purchase materials at cost and those payments would go towards purchase of more inventory.

The initial target audience will be middle-income Montpelier homeowners not qualified for CVCAC’s low-income weatherization assistance program; within this group, those who have had energy audits but have not proceeded with weatherization measures will be prioritized if necessary. Interested high income residents will be provided with resource packets and steered to area BPI certified contractors; lower-income homeowners will be steered to CVCAC; renters would not be a focus group for this pilot.

Elements of each Kit: (see item 1 of ‘Application Appendices.doc’ for detail)

Tools

specialized tools owned by MET

listing of common tools to be supplied by DIY-er

Materials (foam insulation, safety-wear) at bulk rate cost.

Button-up DVD.

List of what can/cannot be DIY’d.

Resources compiled from Efficiency VT, CVCAC.

E.g. EVT’s Air Leakage and Sealing-your-home DIY guides.

Information services: e.g. run-throughs of incentives and low-cost financing options.

Training on several levels:

hands-on training with project leads by local BPI-certified auditors/contractors

Weatherization Skillshop “trainer” training.

Button-up workshop homeowner training

training/orientation of the homeowner

Ongoing contact with weatherization-savvy MET leaders and Weatherization Team members

Resource packets for unqualified homeowners

Project Process/Timeline:

Late Winter 2010: MET Weatherization Team members will participate in a CVCAC/EnergySmart-run Weatherization Skillshop.

Spring 2010: the Team prepares resource and outreach materials for the Kit.

Summer 2010: the Team completes Kit resources and outreach materials, plans the Button-Up VT Kick-off.

Fall 2010:

Outreach continues, via Montpelier’s Capital Area Neighborhoods (CAN) groups & mail-lists; via local print, TV, radio media (e.g. The Bridge, ORCA, WDEV).

Pilot homeowners selected; Between The Crack’s customer list, and sign-ups via VCEM, will be prioritized. (see item 2 in Application Appendices.doc)

Button-Up VT workshop launch, distribution of DIY kits to 10 pilot homeowners with support and guidance from trained volunteers.

Late Fall/early Winter 2010: walk-throughs with local Building Performance contractors. Currently signed-on contractors:

Elliott Curtin, Weatherization and Renovation Montpelier, LLC.

Pavel Tcherkasov, Mindful Building.

Sustainability/Replicability: This project has a high potential for replicability and sustainability: the Kits themselves can be produced en masse; neighborhood “weatherization how-to” networks will likely result, especially if the project itself can be sustained.

2. If your project is successful, what changes will occur in your community and its environment? Please include a timeline/steps for its completion.

First year: networking of weatherization knowledge, experience and resources will increase between neighborhoods & individual homeowners, having originated with those availing of DIY-Kit program.

First & second year: More property owners, in addition to having reduced weatherization expense by perhaps %20-30%, will become comfortable with the process and familiar with the providers, and as a consequence complete the weatherization process.

Ongoing: Montpelier’s GHG emissions will be reduced.

3. Project Budget. Expenses to be covered with NEGEF’s funds specified by italics.

EXPENSES

INCOME

IN-KIND SERVICES

$1,000

Part-time program coordinator.

$500

revolving loan fund to support ongoing purchase of bulk supplies.

$500

Outreach via out print material & Button-Up Workshop: copies, flyers, advertising.

$1200

8 volunteer Weatherization Team members’ participation in CVCAC Weatherization Skillshop 1 day program ($150 each).

$200

specialized tools to be owned by MET (e.g. foam guns)

$600

Initial bulk purchase of weatherization materials and safety gear for DIY kits, e.g. foam canister, caulk, weatherstripping, safety goggles, duct mastic, masks, gloves, headlamps, safety goggles, etc.

Price paid by property owners purchasing the Kit. (owners would purchase materials at MET bulk-purchase cost).

Button Up workshop dedicated to DIY-Kit trainer (Paul Markowitz is a MET member)

Button-up DVDs donated by EnergySmart.

Time donated by local BPI-certified contractors Elliott Curtin; Pavel Tcherkasov.

Publicization of DIY Kits via enVision Montpelier Capitol Area Neighborhoods (CANs)

_$4,000______ _@ $90 ea.__ ___ unknown______

(total expenses) = (total income) + (total in-kind services)

Principal sources of support (e.g. Membership dues, individual donations, grants, special events, etc.) Please list any grants that your group has received.

Woodpellet Co-op sales.

Grants are the Montpelier Energy Team’s principal source of monetary support. Past grants awarded:

NEGEF Small-grant – MET seed money.

Efficiency Vermont ($10 per VCEM property)

Mazer

Lintilhac Foundation

Safe Routes To School (SRTS) - 2009 program

Clean Energy Development Fund (District Energy Team

ARRA funds (District Energy Team)

Please include the following attachments with your application form:

• A list of key volunteers, board of directors and current staff with affiliations, brief biosketches, and email addresses

• Financial statement for most recent completed year and budget for current year, if available

• List of local media with contact names and emails to whom we can send a press release

• Selected copies of group’s newsletter, brochure, and/or press clippings, if appropriate

See ‘MET Application Attachments.doc.’

APPLICANT PROFILE

What is the mission or the goals of your group?

To fulfill the energy efficiency and sustainable-energy objecrtives and goals laid out by Montpelier’s energy leaders: “Montpelier and its neighboring communities will be leaders in creating an economically sustainable and environmentally responsible community reducing fossil fuel consumption by at least 80% by 2030.”

How long has your group been in existence? Since March 2007.

What issue/issues got your group going?

The common recognition by Montpelier citizens, expressed in a March 2007 “Energy Summit” meeting, that the City of Montpelier must start down a path of changing its energy future:

to improve energy options

to expand availability of alternative energy supplies

to reduce the overall use of fossil fuels in the City

How many people started the group? Approximately 10.

Is this the first time that the group’s “founders” had been “activated”? No.

If not the first time, with what other issues had they been involved?

Work toward a biomass-powered CHP District Energy system (http://www.montpelier-vt.org/story/304.html)

Formation of a wood-pellet buying co-op.

Participation in other weatherization programs: VCEM; BTC

The Bikes Team’s work toward making Montpelier a more bike-friendly city.

Safe Routes to Schools grant-writing and program coordination.

Work with Montpelier School System to replace all incandescent bulbs with CFLs (15,000 bulbs switched).

How many people are currently involved as the core group of leaders/workers?

Approx. 25 One President; one Coordinator; 8 Steering Committee members; approximately 15 among the CEAD, Transportation, Weatherization, Energy-use Assessment, and Communal Usership teams.

Is this a membership organization? No.

Do you have any paid staff? Coordinator has received occasional small grant-based stipends.

Approximately how many people in your community can be “activated” to support your issue – i.e., go to a meeting, sign a petition, call a selectperson, etc.? @300

Has the focus of your group broadened or changed at all since it first started? If so, in what ways?

Yes; it has narrowed and sharpened. Its first set of teams numbered 12; the current second convening of teams numbers 5. Rather than forming a team around a focus-area before any concrete work is proposed in that area, a set of projects is identified first before a team is formed.

Have any members of your group run for or been appointed to public office since they started working on your issue/issues? Yes

If so, for what office? State Representative

Elected or appointed? Elected

Describe the size and make-up of your community.

Population: just under 8,000.

Make-up: Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the United States. It has served as a center for government, commerce, industry and services for decades. In recent years development has been influenced by expansion of state government and associated services as well as by the financial services industry. The city is also a regional center for arts and entertainment.

The median household income in 1999 at $37,513 was more than $3,000 below the state median income. City per capita income in 1999 was nearly $2,000 above state levels. The 2003 average wage was more than $4,000 above the state average. In 1999 about 10 percent of the city population was considered to be living in poverty.

For purposes of this application it is important to point out that Montpelier’s dependence on fossil fuels for heating purposes in 2000 was indicated by the fact that nearly 2/3 of the 3899 housing units were heated by fuel oil or kerosene.

13. Have you networked or shared information/resources with other groups? If so, with whom and how did you find out about them?

Team members Paul Markowitz and Johanna Miller actively share information with the Vt Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN).

How have you gained knowledge about your issue?

Through leading Montpelier’s VCEM program, during which MET members including the President, Coordinator, and Weatherization Team Lead installed efficiency-measures in 189 housing units.

Through the MET Coordinator’s recent experience, spanning @ 9 months, working on a BPI-certified weatherization contractor’s crew.

Through general experience as Leaders of the Montpelier Energy Team. Certain basic facts become known quickly; among these is that efficiency (e.g. weatherization) must occur before alternative-fuel adoption, because an inefficient structure will waste whatever type of energy source it consumes.

If your organization is more than a year old, can you quantify any of your “successes”? Examples might be number of acres preserved, miles of trails, increase in recycling rates in town, toxic sites cleaned up, greenspaces/community gardens created, amount of money raised, legislation passed, etc.

Among MET’s “successes” (not all are shown here):

District Energy: have made major strides toward developing a Combined Heat and Power facility for Montpelier.

Completed a feasibility study in October 2008 assessed the feasibility of developing one or more of several sites.

With a grant from the Clean Energy Development Fund, the Team filed a Request for Information with several engineering firms and received six responses that outlined the costs and other requirements for a biomass fueled system in the downtown area.

Veolia Energy NA was selected as the development partner by the City of Montpelier to develop the Biomass District Energy System and examine the feasibility of Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

Veolia 12/1/2009 scoping report: re: constructing a new 2000 BHP (69MBH) District energy CHP plant located at 122 State Street that will be utilized to feed steam to the existing Capitol District Office Complex and deliver hot water in the Montpelier downtown corridor.

Winter 2010: received an $8 million grant for a wood-chip-fueled renewable energy project for the Statehouse and 175 other buildings. See http://www.montpelier-vt.org/story/304.htmlfor more detail.

Cooperative Wood-pellet Purchasing: Gained significant experience as a coordinator for the purchase and distribution of wood pellets to help homeowners convert from fuel oil to the lower cost and more sustainable fuel. Sold 103 tons in 2008 and 48 tons in 2009; 151 tons total, representing a CO2 savings of more than 150 tons; have sold to 31 different households

Weatherization:

In Fall 2008 formed ‘Between The Cracks’ a program using neighborhood teams to help install weatherization strategies.

In Winter/Spring 2009, participated in Efficiency Vermont’s VCEM program. Completed efficiency-measure installations in 189 housing units, exceeding goals by 84% (270% in housing unit terms). Efficiency Vermont’s final report reported Montpelier as #1 in state in:

Residences visited: 189 (next: E. Montpelier-Marshfield-Plainfield, 133)

Measures installed: 1101 (next: Brattleboro, 948)

KWH savings for 1 year: 57,161.5 (next: Brattleboro, 49226.1)

MMBTU savings for 1 year: 357.7 (next: E. Montpelier-Marshfield-Plainfield, 308.8)

Biking: extensive surveying of the community on multiple issues: bike racks, barriers to bike use, problem areas for bikes, priortization of bike advocacy & infrastructure efforts. Offering of bike education courses for beginning commuters, children, winter riders. Organizing and promoting of "bike to Brunch" ride series. Intensive design work & lobbying with city to ensure that bike lanes were incorporated into the rt. 2 paving project.

Walking/biking: Succcessful application to VT Safe Routes To School (SRTS). At its midway point—the 2009/10 Winter break—the improvements include, via Autumn 2009 tallies of the numbers and proportions of UES kids who commuted to and from school under their own power, before the walk-to-school promotion and after, the following increases:

Average AM increase: 71.9%

Average PM increase: 54.4%

Overall Average increase: 63.2%

What are the biggest challenges your community faces?

Over the long term, the population of Montpelier is expected to increase, especially elders—leading to the need for more residential housing units. At the same time, employment is also expected to increase, indicating a need for dozens more average-sized commercial buildings. With fuel costs expected to increase and peak oil concerns looming in the future, it is important that the city do its part to increase efficiencies and decrease use of fossil fuels.

In addition, as a regional center and state capital, Montpelier should do its best to minimize its carbon footprint and serve as a model for change. Providing opportunities for residents to weatherize their homes is an important way to reduce use of fossil fuels and minimize carbon emissions.

17. What skills do you feel you and/or members of your group could use to help move your issue forward?

Educating residents about the importance of energy efficiency, the effects of carbon release on earth’s climate, and the possibility of peak oil will help them understand the importance of weatherizing their homes.

Providing weatherization kits will make it easier for homeowners to undergo energy retrofits and install renewable energy technologies on their properties.

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NEGEF Small-grant application

February 15, 2010

Appendices

1. Detailed listing of Kit Elements:

Tools, either

Specialized tools owned by MET, to be returned to Weatherization Team Lead

Generally-available tools provided by the DIY-er (to be listed in the Kit).

Materials at bulk rate cost

caulk

weatherstripping

foam cannisters

window plastic

outlet gaskets

pipe insulation

duct mastic

Button-up DVD

Training:

Engagement with and oversight of local BPI-certified auditors/contractors

List of local auditors/contractors

Access to BPI certified auditors/contractors for regular training.

Volunteer-run 1 hour training/orientation with the homeowner

Information Services

run-through of incentives

run-through of low-cost financing options

PACE (CEAD) Primer (this cross-promotes another MET initiative).

Instructions, both to MET Weatherization Team members advising homeowners, and homeowners themselves.

List of what can and cannot be DIY’d.

Allowed measures:

Some “workspace-prep” steps: removal of old fiberglass, rockwool

installation of pinkboard insulation

caulking

gun-based sprayfoam insulation

Prohibited measures:

Some “workspace-prep” steps: removal of vermiculite

Dense-pack celllose blowing of cellulose in: exterior walls, slants, “bag-n-blows”

Two-part sprayfoam insulation

Resources compiled from Efficiency VT, CVCAC:

Efficiency Vermont’s DIY guides:

http://efficiencyvermont.com/pages/Residential/Home_Heating/Home_Information/air_leakage/

http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/stella/filelib/DIYHome%20Sealing%20brochure.pdf

http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/stella/filelib/2007FinalEnergySmartBooklet.pdf

Weatherization Skillshop -- a statewide educational program created by CVCAC http://weatherizationskillshop.com/

Ongoing contact with weatherization-savvy MET and Weatherization Team members.

Potential later additions:

related conservation measures (low-flow shower heads, aerators, hot-water pipe insulation)

Low-end cellulose blowers; probably for “open blow” cellulose installation only.

2. Weatherization DIY Kit Sign-ups via VCEM

Name	Phone	Email
Alice Porter / Ted Ingham	229-0957	porter.alice@gmail.com
Amy & Peter Herrick	223-5048	aplherrick@yahoo.com
Carol Sucher	223 9066	carol@carolsucher.com
Jill LaVigne	229 0607	sapphirejem@yahoo.com
Pam & Jim Passburg	229 9267	queenofky@hotmail.com
Cary Brown	229 6691	cbrown9904@gmail.com
Richard Shadroui	476 5363	dickshad@myfairpoint.net
Larry & Carolyn Dwyer	828-4571 (w) 223-5386 (h)	dwyervt08@gmail.com
Wayne Hersey	223 3922 476-7984	waynehersey@aol.com
Cindy Therrien	223-2441
Samantha Kolber	477 3131	samanthakolber421@hotmail.com (or samanthakolber@hotmail.com?)
Jamie & Kim Shanley	223 4856	na
Faith B. King	223 0336	na
Mark Sciarrotta	282 3812	msciarrotta@velco.com
Grace Gilbert	229-2777 (O) 476-9869 (H)	globalgiftsvt@gmail.com
Cory & Katie Gustafson	229 5475	Cory@healthconnexin.com
Nancy Vachon	223 7930	ncvachon@hotmail.com
Dennis Wallace and Kathleen McGranaghan	223-6519	denkat4@myfairpoint.net
Nancy Schulz	223-7035	saddleshoes2@gmail.com
Jean Lowell	229 5634	dontgvup@hotmail.com
Tim O'Rourke	793-7808	timorourke2@yahoo.com
Ken Pearson	223 3659	na

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NEGEF Small-grant application

February 15, 2010

ATTACHMENTS

1. Financial statement for most recent completed year and budget for current year, if available

None available at this time.

2. List of local media with contact names and emails to whom we can send a press release

The Bridge – Marsha Barber, Managing Editor, 802-223-5112 x14

ORCA (Onion River Cable Access) – Kenric Kite, Executive director, kkite@orcamedia.net

Times-Argus – Steve Pappas, Exec. Editor news@timesargus.com, 802, 479-4044 x1158

3. Selected copies of group’s newsletter, brochure, and/or press clippings, if appropriate

“Where To From Here” Bridge article covering the re-convening of MET around a new set of projects. November 19, 2009 issue, page 3.

List of key volunteers, board of directors and current staff with affiliations, brief biosketches, and email addresses

Ken Jones, MET Interim President, Steering Committee member

Email: kjones@gmied.org

Affiliations: GMIED, Montpelier VT; Industrial Economics, Cambridge MA; Stone Environmental, Montpelier, VT

Biosketch: Ken is a Policy Analyst for the Vermont Tax Department. He is also the Executive Director of the Green Mountain Institute for Environmental Democracy (GMI), a non profit research and education organization with a mission to increase the use of information in collaborative decision making. The focus of his work is to integrate the tools of adult learning with the content of science and public policy. He has worked with dozens of governments, mostly in the United States to learn from their successes and apply the learning in improved information-based planning strategies. In the last two years, Ken has increased his activities in areas of energy policy and program implementation. Ken works as a partner on projects across the United States including with David Osborne’s Reinventing Government Network, Industrial Economics of Cambridge Massachusetts and Stone Environmental in Montpelier, Vermont.

Barry McPhee, MET Coordinator:

Email: montpelier.energy.team@gmail.com

Affiliations: MET, Montpelier VT; CVTA Steering Committee, Montpelier, VT; Capitol Area Land Trust, Montpelier VT.

Biosketch: Barry has been Montperlier Energy Team Coordinator since late Fall 2008. Under his leadership, MET attained the highest energy-savings statewide, in MMBTUs and KwHs, in EVT’s VCEM program. He serves on the Cross-Vermont Trail Associations’s Steering Committtee. Barry has previously served as Chair of Montpelier’s Open Space Advisory Committee, co-founder of the Capitol Area Land Trust, and is co-author of Burlington’s Open Space Plan. Barry is also a credentialed Project Management Professional (PMP^®) with experience co-managing Clinton administration’s Technology for a Sustainable Future initiative and IBM’s Common Commerce Engine, among other projects.

Kate Stephenson, Weatherization Team Lead:

Email: kate@yestermorrow.org

Affiliations: MET, Montpelier VT; CVTA Steering Committee, Montpelier, VT; Capitol Area Land Trust, Montpelier VT.

Biosketch: Kate is Executive Director of the Yestermorrow Design/Build school. Kate came to Yestermorrow in 2002 with experience planning and facilitating workshops on sustainability education, restoring historic gardens, researching bioenergy projects in developing countries, and promoting land conservation. Kate is the volunteer Residential Green Building Advocate for the state of Vermont, working closely with the Vermont Green Building Network. She is a co-founder of the Mad River Valley Localvore Project and is a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program.

Judith Ehrlich, MET Weatherization Team member

Email: Judith.Ehrlich@state.vt.us

Affiliations:

Biosketch: Judith is currently Director of Operations for the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. She first joined the Division staff as the Historic Preservation Review Coordinator. She worked in the Colorado State historic Preservation Office as its Section 106 specialist and managed the RITC program. She got her Masters Degree in Historic Preservation from the Art Institute of Chicago. Judith advises the Weatherization Team on working with historically designated buildings.

Mary Hooper, Transportation Team Member:

Email: maryshooper@gmail.com

Affiliations: Vermont House of Representatives; Orton Foundation;

Biosketch: Mary is the present Mayor of Montpelier. She has represented At-Large Washington-5 in the Vt. House of Representatives since 2008. She is former Executive Director of the Montpelier Downtown Community Association and Vermont Association of Conservation Districts. Mary also acted as Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor and Industry. She is a Trustee of the Orton Foundation and Co-Chair of the Washington County Hunger Council. Mary has also been Vice Chair of the Central Vermont Community Action Council and of the Vermont College of the Fine Arts.

Linda Henzel, Development & Fundraising

Email: linda.henzel23@gmail.com

Affiliations: Lean, Green & Seen, LLC; Montpelier Conservation Commission; North Branch Nature Center

Biosketch: Linda Henzel has lived in Montpelier for a decade and served on the Conservation Commission for two years. She is a natural resource planner and has experience in the energy conservation and electronics industries. She spearheaded a number of cross-departmental strategic planning and policy initiatives for the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). She authored Erosion, Land Use, and Stream Ecology: A Manual for Lake Champlain Basin Communities for the Lake Champlain Committee for her M.S. degree in natural resources planning from the University of Vermont. She currently serves on the board of the North Branch Nature Center and provides consulting services to nonprofit organizations and government through her company Lean, Green & Seen, LLC.

Steering Committee Members

Garth Genge

Email: ggenge@montpelier-vt.org

Biosketch: Garth is the Community Development Specialist for Montpelier’s Planning and Community Development Department. Additional information at http://www.montpelier-vt.org/group/134.html.

Rich Sedano

Email: richsedano@aol.com

Biosketch: Rich is a Director of The Regulatory Assistance Project. He is the facilitator of the Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resource Initiative, the Midwest Demand Resources Initiative, and the Pacific Northwest Demand Response Project. Recently, he has worked with a collaborative in Arkansas and Oklahoma to launch energy efficiency programs, with members and stakeholders of the Ozone Transport Commission to develop utility policies to address regional ozone policy, and the stakeholders developing the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency. Prior to joining RAP in 2001, Mr. Sedano served as Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service (VDPS) for nine years, and in staff positions for seven more. The VDPS represents utility consumers in all regulatory matters, and is the state's energy office and consumer advocate. Mr. Sedano served as chair of the National Association of State Energy Officials from 1998-2000. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, the ISO-New England Environmental Advisory Group, the investment committee of the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund, EVermont (an alternative transportation vehicle consortium), and the Energy Team for the City of Montpelier. He was a member of the Task Force on Reliability to the U.S. Secretary of Energy's Advisory Committee from 1997-1998, and a member of the Advisory Committee to the ISO-New England Board of Directors from 1999-2003. Mr. Sedano received his Sc.B. in Engineering from Brown University, and his M.S. in Engineering Management from Drexel University.

Andy Hooper

Email: tah@thatitguy

Biosketch: Andy is a Montpelier City Council member, representing District 1. Elected March ‘06, re-elected March ‘08.

Stan Brinkerhoff

Email: stan@vtwireless.com

Biosketch: Stan is a life-long Vermont resident. He is a member of MET’s Weatherization and Energy-use Assessment Teams as well as its Steering Commmittee. His active role in public service also includes membership on the Board of Directors of both Freeride Montpelier (a bicycle advocacy cooperative) and the Onion River Exchange (Timebank). Stan has worked in the computer industry for over 10 years, with diverse clients including educational institutions, financial service providers and banks, insurance agencies, manufacturers, and medical services providers. He has been involved in all facets of project management, design, implementation, integration of legacy systems, and security systems.

Dominic Nicholas

Email: dominicnicholas@yahoo.com

Biosketch: Dominic has offered his services as MET’s IT staff, taking responsibility for developing and maintaining MET’s public website. Dominic brings over 15 years of experience in the high tech field, working primarily with startups. Throughout his career he has built systems, leading the process from assessing a company’s needs through implementation. Since April 2007, Dominic has been an independent consultant in the growing field of large scale computer and network monitoring systems. He has also started and run a glassblowing business, and has been a freelance photographer. Dominic as held people-oriented roles such professional services and technical consulting to nonprofits. He is now leveraging that experience to transition into green energy, environmental or socially responsible fields.

Justin McCabe

Email: jwmccabe1@gmail.com

Biosketch: Justin is a member of both the MET Steering Committee and its PACE (Property-Assessed Clean Energy, aka CEAD) Team. Justin is also the Lower Elm neighborhood leader for Montpelier CAN!, an association that serves as a conduit between the city of Montpelier and the city's twelve neighborhoods. Justin is a patent attorney with Downs Rachlin and Martin PLLC’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. He also brings an advanced degree in engineering, plus four years of experience in business and operations management and two years consulting in the petrochemical industry, to his practice.

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