Marion Town Planner Gil Hilario told Monday night’s October 26 Energy Management Committee meeting that he has received official notice from the state giving Marion the approval to spend from the Green Communities grant.
“We will start completing the projects very soon,” said Hilario. “They’re all small projects, except for the Community Center.”
The Community Center will get heat pumps in all three of its rooms and will be tackled first. “Really, it’s a win-win because the grant is paying for 95 percent of the project cost,” said Hilario. “If you remember, heat pumps [were] a big question. It wasn’t part of our original proposal, and the work the committee did helped get heat pumps into that building.”
The EMC’s desire for a net-zero Department of Public Works building is something that it accepts will not be on the table as the project seeks to get off the ground. But that does not rule out revisiting the matter.
“I sensed that they weren’t ready to go to Town Meeting with that building,” said committee member Bill Saltonstall. Hilario heard from a selectman that it might be too expensive to tackle now, but maybe at the next one or two town meetings it can be addressed.
Committee Chairman Christian Ingerslev said he sent a letter to Town Administrator Jay McGrail requesting he apply for a net-zero grant next year, and added the suggestion that ground-source heating be considered for some of the new DPW building.
The EMC wants to see heat-recovery ventilation systems to increase the flow of fresh air in municipal buildings around town. “The Town House has no fresh air. I’d love to see them get some fresh air,” said Saltonstall, alluding to its old steam heating system. Saltonstall hopes Marion can get reimbursed for the expense by Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding.
Ingerslev pointed out that the Town House uses substantially more energy than the Taber Library. Saltonstall pointed to the Town House’s lack of insulation. “They’ve done a wonderful job of sprucing up the outside of the building,” he said, noting that little heating units do not come with fresh air in the base models. “But these heat-recovery units will help a lot.”
Taber Library, he said, was insulated in the early 1980s, but insulating the Town House would likely be too expensive with the removal of asbestos. Saltonstall suggested such an effort not be tackled until the town installs new electrical and plumbing systems.
Now that the town is renting rather than owning at Atlantis Drive, Saltonstall said Marion might get 15 percent savings this year on energy use. “They know we’re waiting,” he said of the state. “Other than that, we’ve reported on projects we expect to be doing, i.e. a solar array on the site of the proposed Department of Public Works construction.
The EMC has a 4:15 pm appointment during the Tuesday, November 3 meeting of the Board of Selectmen at the Marion Music Hall to officially request two vehicle charging stations. The charging station at Atlantis Drive was taken down after the sale of the building and is in storage.
On October 6, Marion Police ordered a Ford Interceptor, a new hybrid police cruiser. “It’s great to get the first hybrid cruiser. We could pretty much replenish the whole fleet if they like the hybrid,” said Saltonstall.
Rob Fisher has not heard back from the Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles in his effort to acquire the vehicle identification numbers that would help the EMC determine how many hybrid vehicles there are in town. This information is critical as the town considers adding electric charging stations.
Hilario said that Eversource agreed to do a walk-through of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and some rebates and incentive plans might become available.
Along with the DPW project, the proposed Harbormaster building has drawn a lot of attention – not all of it positive.
Saltonstall said that the building will add substantial energy use if built as proposed in a recent public meeting. He believes the current Harbormaster’s office would probably accommodate three people right now.
“Great view, no one’s forcing us to throw these facilities away,” he said. “If these were on the list for some remedial work, I think the building would serve the Harbormaster for a long time. I’m personally opposed to a new building. Maybe most of the money is going to come from mooring fees. I’ve written a letter to the selectmen on this.”
Saltonstall acknowledged issues with rusting railings and outdated insulation. “The town needs to have some toilet rooms that are open to the public. They’re serviceable,” he said. Ingerslev said few realize they are available to the public.
Committee member Tom Fisher suggested the town target Green Community Program funds for Harbormaster renovations.
Hilario noted that one of the reasons for the size of the structure as recently proposed is that the Seaport Grant funding brings the condition that space be made available to the public with an educational component.
Towns now have additional incentive for solar installations that have battery systems as part of their overall energy. In such a scenario, Eversource would be connected and, during peak-load periods, would draw from the private batteries. The cost is $225 per kilowatt during summer months and $50 per kilowatt in winter months. Fisher said, “It has a tremendous payback,” though there are not yet state incentives. The federal government allows a 25 percent tax credit on purchases. Saltonstall said batteries are part of the solar project proposed for the landfill.
The next and last 2020 meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee is scheduled for Monday, November 16.
Marion Energy Management Committee
By Mick Colageo