By Paul Conyers
The Sustainability Committee opened its Nov. 20 meeting to welcome new Alternate member, Karl Huber, to his first official meeting. Huber already has experience working on the Hudson Electric Aggregation Committee.
“We very much welcome Karl coming on board,” said Committee Chair, Deb Putnam.
The Electric Aggregation Committee, a subcommittee on Sustainability, has begun its work with the Community Power Coalition of N.H. The Board of Selectmen approved the partnership and aggregation plan last October.
“The thing we’re working on is getting communication out early, to keep Community Power in the public eye,” said Committee member, Craig Putnum. “We have a tentative timeline for the enrollment process, it’s to be finalized, but at the moment, I have booked the community room in the Rodgers Memorial Library for the evening of Jan. 31 for our public information session.”
The goal is to have every resident looking to participate in the aggregation plan by April 1 of next year.
The Electric Aggregation Committee will hold a regular meeting in the Rodgers Memorial Library on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, at 7 p.m.
Recently, Sustainability Committee Member, Kate Messner, attended the Local Energy Solutions Conference and was impressed by the potential of renewables.
“My big takeaway was that for the longest time, utility companies were one way: they provided the power, and we paid,” said Messner. “Now with renewables coming into the picture, we’re talking two-way power exchanges and communications.”
She was referring to the ability of many renewables to provide electricity back to the grid, calling it a “paradigm shift” in power.
Renewables have been relevant for Hudson with a recent vote from the Board of Selectmen to move forward with a solar farm installed near Hudson’s transfer station. The solar installation will need approval through a public vote.
Member, Chris Thatcher, has been working to keep the Sustainability Facebook group up-to-date, something that has fallen by the wayside in the past.
“I would say we might want to consider a Facebook page and not a group,” said Thatcher. He had given members of the public an easy way to communicate with the Committee. “The page will do more getting information out there.”
The newest member was curious as to what role the Sustainability Committee had with the town’s Master Plan. Currently, town officials are in the process of updating the Plan for the first time in 15 years.
“Is the Committee involved in the Master Planning?” asked Huber. “I’ve looked at the Master Plan, and it’s quite old. I think this Committee should have a significant say in what the Master Plan is doing.”
Selectmen Liaison, Bob Guessferd, told Huber to contact the Planning Board and to attend public hearings for Master Plan proposals, saying “We’d love to have you involved.” At least one chapter is expected to reflect sustainability goals. He wanted to see the Plan become a “living document” and encouraged members of the Hudson residents to attend public hearings.
The Sustainability Committee meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in Town Hall, with plans to hold the next meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.