Energy and Environmental Innovation Committee October 1, 2008

[Diane Blevins]

Proceedings of the Board of Trustees

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

October 1, 2008

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

The Energy and Environmental Innovation Committee of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana, and High School District, Yellowstone County, Montana, was duly held at The Lincoln Center, 415 North 30th Street, Billings, Montana, October 1, 2008, at 5:30 p.m.

 

Those present included Lew Anderson, Ed Gulick, Rich Whitney, Larry Grendal, Joel Guthals, Jeffrey Gruizenga, Kathy Aragon, and Ron Pecarina. Trustee Guthals, Committee Chair, presided.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 21, 2008

 

Jeffrey Gruizenga made the following motion with a second by Ron Pecarina:

 

Motion to approve the minutes of the May 21,2008 EEIC meeting.

 

Those voting in favor were Lew Anderson, Ed Gulick, Rich Whitney, Larry Grendal, Joel Guthals, Jeffrey Gruizenga, Kathy Aragon, and Ron Pecarina. The motion passed unanimously.

 

SCHOOL FACILITIES PLANNING PROCESS

 

Trustee Guthals gave a brief update on the facilities planning process, which is a work in progress. He has reviewed the concept of having joint libraries in the schools so that the public can use the libraries also. The biggest expense when building a school is the staffing costs but there would be fewer schools if larger schools were built. Trustee Guthals felt the District would have to come up with a different approach as to what is a neighborhood school. The facilities summary included project cycles, which would have to be financed by bonds in phases. The focus is on the elementary schools but the middle schools and high schools would be addressed at a later date. Important principles were included in the facilities plan especially efficient buildings and sustainable buildings.

 

Lew Anderson provided information on expenses for Rimrock including electricity and natural gas. Ed Gulick stated the process looks good and felt the Board was moving in the right direction.

 

UC BERKLEY FACILITY SURVEY

 

Trustee Aragon reported the UC Berkley Facility Survey is a subjective survey as it deals with the people in the facilities. She felt it could have some value and it is free to the District. There is a minimal time frame from those filling out the survey and the results would be available by January. Trustee Aragon believed a recommendation from this committee would be helpful and that all facilities should be covered. Ed Gulick felt it would be great information to have. Ron Pecarina stated it would add more information that could be used by the committee. Though he had not seen the survey he believed other information could be derived from it. Trustee Aragon stated she would get the survey form to the committee. Trustee Guthals reported the Board had authorized the Superintendent to use his judgment and move forward if he so wishes.

 

Jeffrey Gruizenga was concerned on how dated the information would be if the information was not used for 15 years. Rich Whitney believed it would be better to survey McKinley, Broadwater and Orchard schools if it would give us meaningful information and it would be current. Trustee Guthals stated he would take this information from the committee to the Superintendent. Carrie Miller has been assigned this project.

 

ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

 

The energy management contract began on July 1, 2008. The first major step was to select and hire the person who is going to be overseeing the energy management project. Lew Anderson was selected as that manager and software was purchased and is being used. Thomas Harpers reported he receives a report each Monday as to what has occurred. A report for the first five or six months of activity will be available earlier next year for the Board. No complaints have been received. Lew Anderson has been given access to all aspects in the District.

 

Mr. Anderson reported he went to Nashville for three days of training and will attend another training session in Georgia. He was skeptical at first but after visiting with people at the training session, he believes the District can reach the goal. He is working on developing trust and relationships with people. The base year will be July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008. Computers are being shut down when not in use, which one computer costs $.26 per day to run. Mr. Anderson stated he has met with lunch personnel and asked them not to prop doors open. He will meet again with custodians in two weeks to address other issues. He meets with the staff at each school on an individual basis. Capital projects are also being reviewed and Skyview is the main concern as it is the largest energy user in the District. Skyview’s watering will also be reviewed,S as it was $10,000 last month.

 

Trustee Aragon was excused at 7:00 p.m.

 

RECYCLING COMMON SENSE PROGRAM

 

Rich Whitney reported the Yellowstone Business Partnership Project allows for the promotion of sustainable business within the Yellowstone Park area. Members of the group are from Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Recycling programs have begun at the District’s elementary schools. Mr. Whitney stated the group is taking an inventory of what is being done, defining the mission and vision statement, and then can draw out the goals of some attainable items.

 

CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY BONDS (CREBS) PROJECT

 

Trustee Guthals reported the wind generator project has run into some challenges. He asked the committee to make a recommendation to the Board about whether the project should be continued or delayed. Thomas Harper reported the two sites were named with the prime site being on state land and the second is District owned property in the Heights. The Heights property would not produce the revenue. NorthWestern Energy does not own the power lines on the state school land but Yellowstone Valley does. If the District does not have a certification of land use, it cannot go to the bond commission for the bonds. The District does not have a certificate for the land use. Mr. Harper stated he must find out if the District is liable if it does not move forward as it has signed all the applications to get into the power program. He will discuss the matter with Claud Matney. Rich Whitney informed the committee that he has spoken to Joe Graham in New York who has wind turbines for sale.

 

Trustee Guthals reported that one of the requirements for the bonds is to have the turbines in production by December 31, 2008 and must have made the first payment by then. The only way would be to take a loan from the Intercap loan program. The Skyview site is not a practical site and the Molt area site is school district land, owned by the state and managed by the State Land Board. The state cannot turn a section of land over to the District. Yellowstone Valley would only put lines in to interconnect to transfer power to NorthWestern Energy. The State Land Board also wants a percentage of the power generated.

 

Mr. Harper did not feel it was feasible to get the projects up and running by December 31, 2008. The District would have to reapply next year, and in the meantime, the District could look for an alternative site. Senator Baucus could also try to have the IRS waive the fees for the reapplication process. Trustee Guthals stated it would also take away the requirement to make the full payment by December 31st. Senator Baucus is very excited to get one of these projects going.

 

Ed Gulick made the following motion with a second by Rich Whitney:

 

Motion to recommend to the Board to delay the CREB’s Project until 2009.

 

Those voting in favor were Ed Gulick, Joel Guthals, Ron Pecarina, Jeffrey Gruizenga, Larry Grendal, and Rich Whitney. The motion passed unanimously.

 

ENERGY ANALYSIS REPORT, JULY 2006 – CENTRAL HEIGHTS

 

Ron Pecarina reviewed the Energy Analysis Report for Central Heights. The areas covered during the analysis were lighting, irrigation, and water usage. The previous retrofit saved money but increased lighting. If funding were available, recommendations are to replace the boiler, replace single pane windows in metal frames, and reduce the size of the windows. It was also recommending that the top 2’ of windows be eliminated. Programmable thermostats have been installed in Central Heights. 28-watt TA full-length lamps are available which would reduce watt usage and would reduce the lighting level by 7%. The life of the lamps is approximately the same and cost around $3 apiece. They would result in a three-year payback if done now. The recommendations would result in 50% savings in energy. Mr. Pecarina felt Central Heights was typical of other buildings in the District.

 

Trustee Guthals asked if the committee would be able to put together a tangible presentation to support a building reserve levy and outline what the reserve fund would be used for, including the costs and paybacks. The cost to the taxpayers would not be large.

 

The Will James Middle School plan would save 50% in gas savings and 30% electricity savings. Mr. Whitney suggested including energy savings in deferred maintenance. Mr. Harper felt a presentation be put together now and not wait until February. It was the consensus of the committee that there are significant opportunities to reduce energy in the schools and it would be a good use of taxpayers’ dollars to invest in upgrades.

 

OTHER ITEMS OF INFORMATION

 

As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Joel Guthals, Chair

 

 

 

Diane Blevins, Recorder