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Meeting report · Energy Aggregation Committee
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Energy Aggregation Committee — January 15, 2026

This was a collegial, planning-focused meeting with no public dissent, no split votes, and no adversarial exchanges — the only forward-looking tension is external, in the form of anticipated voter resistance to the solar bond at town meeting.

Date Thursday, January 15, 2026 Duration 1.5h Speakers 7 Decisions 3 Routine
▶ Video

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approved minutes from November 12th meeting
Motion made by Shannon Martinez, all voting members in favor
Approved unanimously
Committee agreed to hold public information meeting after deliberative session and before town meeting
Meeting to be scheduled for late February, likely at the library
Consensus agreement
Committee agreed to change regular meeting schedule from second Wednesday to last Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM
Change takes effect for 2026 meetings, town website will be updated
Consensus agreement

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 01:27 Community Power Coalition Rate Announcements

Coalition announced rates between 14-14.9 cents per kilowatt hour for basic service. Eversource rates delayed due to PUC ruling requiring 6-month reconciliation cycle for under-billing issues.

Speakers: Katherine Buchoyev, Doug Cogan, Sue Gotlin
▶ 17:16 Solar Zoning Ordinance Discussion

Planning board proposed Amendment 4 to define residential and commercial solar energy systems with site plan review requirements. Does not allow solar farms but permits accessory solar use for homes and businesses.

Speakers: Katherine Buchoyev, Shannon Martinez, Sue Gotlin, Doug Cogan
▶ 22:35 Committee Role in Public Education

Discussion of committee's potential role in educating public about both solar ordinance and wastewater plant project, including possible information sessions beyond deliberative session.

Speakers: Katherine Buchoyev, Shannon Martinez, Doug Cogan
▶ 49:21 Wastewater Treatment Plant Solar Array Project

Water and Sewer Commission project seeking $1.3 million bond for solar array installation. Pre-approved for $250,000 loan forgiveness from NH DES Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

Speakers: Betty, Katherine Buchoyev, Doug Cogan, Shannon Martinez
▶ 1:11:05 Water and Sewer Commission Support for Solar Bond

Discussion about whether to include a statement of support from the Water and Sewer Commission for the solar array bond proposal. Committee discussed verifying the commission's support through Teddy (the chair).

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:12:23 New London Partnership and Cost Sharing

Discussion about New London's role in the wastewater treatment system, with over 60% of sewer fees paid by New London customers. Committee considered whether to include this information in public materials.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:15:06 Solar at Wastewater Treatment Plants Statewide

a speaker reported that 16 other New Hampshire towns have already installed solar arrays at wastewater treatment plants, positioning this as a proven, low-risk approach.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:17:11 Public Education Strategy for Solar Bond

Extensive discussion about organizing public information sessions to educate voters about the solar array bond proposal, including potential venues like the library and timing around the deliberative session.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:25:57 Committee Meeting Schedule Change

Discussion about changing the committee's regular meeting schedule from the second Wednesday to the last Wednesday of each month due to a speaker's conflict.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

$1.3 Million Wastewater Treatment Plant Solar Bond

A $1.3 million bond requires voter approval and represents a significant financial commitment. While framed as cost-neutral (repaid via energy savings and sewer fees), voters may question the debt, the projections, or the prioritization. The committee's explicit strategizing about how to reach 'resistant' voters signals anticipated public opposition.
Board position: Strongly supportive; actively planning public education campaign to build voter approval ahead of town meeting
medium concern
02

Community Power Coalition Rates Higher Than Expected

CPC rates of 14–14.9 cents/kWh reflect a deliberate decision to rebuild the coalition's fund balance after losses, meaning current customers are absorbing costs from prior under-billing. Eversource rate comparison is also delayed due to a PUC-mandated 6-month reconciliation cycle, leaving residents without full comparative data to make informed opt-out/stay decisions.
Board position: Informational and explanatory; committee is awaiting Eversource rates before updating public-facing materials
medium concern
03

Solar Zoning Ordinance (Planning Board Amendment 4)

Zoning amendments directly affect property rights. While the ordinance explicitly prohibits solar farms and limits solar to accessory use, some residents may object to new site plan review requirements for residential or commercial solar installations, potentially viewing them as bureaucratic barriers to adoption.
Board position: Informational and supportive of the planning board's proposed amendment; committee discussed providing public education
low concern
04

New London Cost-Sharing in Wastewater Solar Project

Over 60% of sewer fees are paid by New London customers, meaning a majority of the financial burden for a Sunapee-governed project falls on residents of a neighboring town. It is unclear whether New London customers have equivalent representation or input in the bond decision, raising inter-municipal equity concerns.
Board position: Committee acknowledged the fact and discussed whether to include it in public materials, suggesting awareness of its political sensitivity
medium concern
05

Committee Acting as Advocacy Body for Solar Bond

The committee explicitly strategized about public outreach to persuade voters to support the solar bond, including identifying venues to reach 'resistant' residents. A municipal advisory committee organizing persuasion campaigns for a ballot measure raises questions about the appropriate role of government bodies in influencing voters, even on ostensibly beneficial projects.
Board position: Committee consensus to hold public information sessions framed as education but clearly oriented toward building support for the bond
low concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Contact Andrew Hatch for updated Eversource rate information
Assigned: Katherine Buchoyev · Due: As soon as available
Update committee webpage with new rate information
Assigned: Katherine Buchoyev · Due: After rate announcements received
Finalize warrant article booklet language and post online
Assigned: Shannon Martinez · Due: By Friday (after legal review)
Consider holding public information sessions on solar ordinance and wastewater project
Assigned: Committee · Due: Before February 3rd deliberative session
Contact Dave or Holly about Water and Sewer Commission participation in public information meeting
Assigned: Betty (a speaker) · Due: Before scheduling meeting
Send new meeting schedule to town to update website
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Soon
Follow up with Doug from Clean Energy for educational materials and resources
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Before deliberative session
Contact Jamie Hess, chairman of New England Energy Committee, for project implementation advice
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Not specified

Notable ⁠statements

CPCNH made a conscious decision that they want to try to recover restore the fund balance that they lost a year ago... and are kind of willing to take their lumps at least through this next rate period — Doug Cogan · Explaining why Community Power Coalition rates are higher than expected ▶ 12:16
This ordinance does not allow solar farms. It doesn't allow the building or adding of solar for the purpose of commerce to make money off the solar — Katherine Buchoyev · Clarifying that the solar ordinance only permits accessory use, not commercial solar farms ▶ 21:52
The Water and Sewer Commission is an entity of the town, but operates separately... This is not paid for by all the taxpayers — Betty · Explaining that wastewater plant solar project costs will be covered by sewer user fees, not general taxes ▶ 1:00:01
Repayment of bonds or notes is expected to be through energy savings and sewer user fees and therefore will not impact will have no impact on the tax rate — Shannon Martinez · Reading warrant article language for wastewater treatment plant solar project ▶ 1:04:33
There are 16 other towns in New Hampshire that already have put solar installations at their wastewater treatment plants because it's the biggest energy bill in most of these towns and the most affordable way to cut that energy bill — Unidentified speaker · Discussing precedent for solar at wastewater treatment facilities ▶ 1:15:09
Over 60% of the sewer fees are paid by New London customers — Unidentified speaker · Explaining the financial partnership with New London ▶ 1:13:17
What would be the best venue to reach people who might be most resistant? — Unidentified speaker · Strategizing about public outreach for the solar bond ▶ 1:18:43

Member ⁠positions

1 issues · 0 explicit · 0 inferred
Present
Wastewater Treatment Plant Solar Array Project ✓
Explained project costs covered by sewer fees only

Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position.

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
No public comments were identified in this meeting.
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Report composed by claude-sonnet-4-20250514, claude-sonnet-4-6, claude-opus-4-6 · analyzed 2026-05-19.