MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

April 22, 2010

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Members

Philip Ling, Chair

Mylene Bezerra Batista

Gary Diamond

Lloyd Helferty

Brent Mersey

Louis Priftakis

Tom Rado

Carrie Sally

Christopher Sauer

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath

 

Guests

Sam Tran

Gord Walter

 

Staff

Bev Shugg Barbeito, Committee Secretary

 

Regrets

Erika Lontoc

Zahra Parhizgari

 

 

1.      CALL TO ORDER

The Markham Environmental Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:10 PM with    Mr. Philip Ling presiding as Chair. He welcomed guests Sam Tran and Gord Walter to the meeting.

 

 

2.   CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

The agenda was accepted as distributed.


 

3.   ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 18, 2010

 

It was

 

Moved by             Chris Sauer
Seconded by          Lloyd Helferty

 

That the minutes of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee (MEAC) held on

March 25, 2010 be adopted as distributed.

 

                                                                                          Carried

 

 

4.   MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

 

A.  TOWN PATHWAY THROUGH ROUGE VALLEY LANDS

Guest Gord Walter of CPAC (Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee) briefly outlined the presentation made to the Committee at the March meeting. On May 22, volunteers would be needed to help mark the trail to warn of dangerous areas such as wash-outs, storm run-offs, fallen trees, etc. During the May 29th walk, Committee members would register residents, ensure waivers are completed and lead members of the public along the pathway system. He asked Committee members to confirm their intention to volunteer either on May 22 or on May 29. Philip Ling and Brent Mersey will volunteer for May 22; Chris Sauer and Louis Priftakis may be able to join them. Lloyd Helferty, Chris Sauer and Sam Tran are available on May 29. Gord Walter will also solicit volunteers from among CPAC members.

 

Gord Walter also requested the Committee consider paying for a van or bus to pick up participants from the various exit points; the cost would be approximately $300.

 

It was

 

Moved by        Chris Sauer
Seconded by    Philip Ling

 

That the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee (MEAC) pay for a van or bus to pick up participants during the May 29th walk, at an approximate cost of $300.

 

                                                                                          Carried

 

Deputy Mayor Jack Heath advised that a logo for the Rouge Watershed has been developed and may be unveiled at the May 29th Walk. He will arrange to send invitations for the walk to all members of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee, Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

 

B.  SOLAR ENERGY AND COMMUNITY POWER INITIATIVES

            It was noted that solar panels have been installed on a portion of the roof at the Markham Civic Centre. The Committee expressed an interest in viewing this solar installation.

 

            Chair Philip Ling noted that attempts to access information on a community based solar energy project in Seattle had been unsuccessful.

 

            Chris Sauer met with and discussed the community based proposal with representatives of Community Power Fund. Unfortunately, it has no funding available at this time and he was directed to contact Peter Litster, Assistant Program Manager at Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative (TREC) , a not-for-profit co-operative. Building on the experience from the WindShare co-operative's Exhibition Place wind turbine project, TREC has introduced the SolarShare project. SolarShare is a for-profit co-operative that will build multiple rooftop solar- electric projects of up to 250kW in size, which it will finance, develop, maintain and operate. Revenues from its energy sales will be at set rates guaranteed under 20 year contracts with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), under Ontario's new Feed-In Tariff (FIT) Program, a part of the new Green Energy and Green Economy Act.

 

            Mr. Litster was very interested in the community based solar energy proposal because SolarShare wants to develop at minimum two commercial-grade, community-owned projects in 2010 and four in 2011. It has the infrastructure in place to support such projects - SolarShare will plan, permit, build, own, operate and insure the project for its 20-year lifespan, essentially eliminating any risks for the host. The projects will be financed through a traditional mix of debt and equity. Projects can be wholly owned by the SolarShare co-operative or through a joint venture partnership, similar to the Toronto Hydro-WindShare partnership that owns the Exhibition Place wind turbine in Toronto, another TREC project. Shares may be purchased by any person or business, including the roof host and its employees.

 

            Discussion focussed on the feasibility of a partnership between the Town of Markham and community investment. The Town has already rented the  roofs of most Town buildings to Powerstream. A 250 kW system would require up to 80,000 ft.² of roof space, while a smaller system would require proportionately less space. There may still be space on the Markham Civic Centre roof and it was suggested that a pilot project might be appropriate.

 

            It was felt that the community investment plan would need to be well marketed to the community - residents would want to know how the plan would work and how dividends would be earned. It was also suggested that the project could partner with a bank to collect contributions and pay out dividends.

           

It was agreed to invite Peter Litster (TREC/SolarShare) to speak with the Committee at the next meeting. The Committee also agreed to move forward with developing a proposal for a partnership between the Town of Markham and community investment. It was suggested the Committee`s presentation to Council will need specifics such as the number of interested residents, costs etc.

 

Next steps include:

           

Task

By

Confirm the amount of roof space at the Markham Civic Centre remaining for other solar installations

Carrie Sally, Graham Seaman (Manager Climate Change and Energy)

Interest and sign up Markham residents

All

Develop enrolment form

Chris Sauer

Research and check with Peter Litster about other similar projects such as Osoyoos

All

Develop the major points for the presentations

All

Investigate banking contacts

Brent Mersey

 

 

5.      NEW BUSINESS

Chris Sauer asked Committee members to recommend to Town Councillors another community based solar project on the rooftop of a condo building to be built at Kennedy Rd. and Castan Ave.; it is a green initiative and the community will benefit directly from it.

 

 

6.      ADJOURNMENT

 

It was

 

Moved by        Tom Rado

Seconded by    Brent Mersey

 

That the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee adjourn at 9:15 PM.

 

 

7.      NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Markham Environmental Advisory Committee has been scheduled for Thursday May 27, 2010.