The Public Facilities Committee voted to hold the following (see report and watch the meeting video):
- Discussion regarding reducing gas leaks and transition away from methane gas (7-0, Councilor Danberg Absent) discussed with item below.
- Discussion with DPW and the Climate & Sustainability Team Regarding Identifying and Implementation of Electrification Locations (7-0, Councilor Danberg Absent) Representatives from National Grid explained “Integrated Energy Planning. Electrification today largely focuses on customer cost but not system cost. As more customers transition, the dual infrastructure becomes increasingly expensive to maintain. Integrated Energy Planning coordinates investment activities between gas and electric systems and other electrification efforts. This can be done by targeting customer adoption of electrification in specific locations and timeframes and strategic decommissioning of gas system sections.” Capacity will not be an issue with forward planning, substations are being built and expanded. The State requires all gas companies “to conduct analyses to find non-pipeline alternatives (NPA) prior to any new gas investments, however, there are few viable NPAs at this stage.” National Grid’s objectives for 2035 include “proactive research on non-pipeline alternatives, development of tools and procedures, refining the collaboration with communities and customers, and coordinating investment efforts among National Grid and Eversource.” Recently Newton’s Department of Public Utilities has issued a waiver to National Grid and Eversource allowing them to share large-scale data.
- Discussion with National Grid regarding their Networked Geothermal project in Lowell (7-0, Councilor Danberg Absent) Held to create a subgroup with the NCCE and National Grid to work on two-year implementation plan which will be brought back to the committee. National Grid and Eversource would lead on the technical aspects of the plan, Newton would help develop outreach and communication strategies for the community. Newton’s DPU will not be part of the subgroup.
Present: Councilors Albright (Chair), Leary, Kelley, Gentile, Getz, Laredo, and Kalis
Absent: Councilor Danberg
Also present: Councilor Malakie
City Staff: Commissioner of Public Buildings Josh Morse, Co-Director of Sustainability Sam Nighman,
Co-Director of Sustainability Ann Berwick, Climate Action Coordinator Caroline Weiss
Also attending: John Slote, Stephen Grody, Jonathan Kantar, and Philip Hanser of the Newton Energy Commission; Faye Brown, National Grid Director of Gas Delivery Solution with the Future of Heat Engineering; Bill Foley, National Grid Director, Future of Heat; Amy Smith, National Grid Director of the Newton England Jurisdiction Gas Business Unit; Christopher Comack, Eversource Manager of Integrated Energy Planning; Steven Menges Mass Save Manager of Energy Efficienty/DSM Policy & Data
