OpenGloucester

Clean Energy Commission

Minutes (PDF)

What was decided

The Clean Energy Commission met on July 30th, 2026 to approve past minutes, hear a staff report on the Gloucester High School Geothermal project and West Gloucester Water Treatment Plant solar installation, and review plans and presentation materials for an upcoming Climate Leader Public Information Session. Members discussed guest speakers, the building code (Stretch Code and Specialized Stretch Code), potential projects such as a solar canopy at O'Maley Middle School, and the idea of including Community Electricity Aggregation in the presentation. The meeting adjourned at 6:00pm, with members agreeing to meet again on August 27th.

Decisions recorded

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MINUTES OF THE CLEAN ENERGY COMMISSION

July 30th, 2026, at 5:02 P.M. Approved at the meeting of August 27th, 2026

Participants: Sam Cleaves, Linda Brayton, John Bourneuf, Courtney Allen, Em Strubell, John Moskal Absent: None Staff: Bailey McCaul, Sustainability Coordinator Location: Rose Baker Center for Aging Well. All votes were taken by roll call. A full recording of this meeting is available at: https://gloucester-ma-gov.zoom.us/rec/play/4MPltgk6ZTrEAt3sOCKCpclzDQvr42gprUvNIKQumdh3n9abwksBQZbqEeqO4HutayqtTFwdndA_plu0.AaYPQlU0DjQYOscs?accessLevel=meeting&canPlayFromShare=true&from=share_recording_detail&startTime=1785445300000&oldStyle=true&componentName=rec-play&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgloucester-ma-gov.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2FHLJaxf4qQQBSfBO25TyLDG0qO2W8SlF7MpkhJ9FCohyHfivg_hyh8jXPtqkHa2AG.gJktrU8K-LSSChfv%3FstartTime%3D1785445300000

Past Meeting Minutes Approval:

  • May 2026, June 2026
  • Staff member has to change the location name.
  • Commission unanimously approves both minutes with suggested edits.

General Discussion/Presentations:

Staff Report:
  • The Gloucester High School Geothermal project is on hold until contracting issues between the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the selected vendor are resolved.
  • There are scheduling concerns due to the lengthy contracting process and weather conditions.
  • The solar installations on West Gloucester Water Treatment Plant are fully installed and waiting to be hooked up to the grid by NationalGrid, the turn-on date is not yet determined.
  • Sustainability Coordinator confirms the date and location of the Climate Leader Public Information Session and brings materials for review.
  • Staff distributes the flyer advertising the event, a draft invitation email template, and the printed slideshow to members.
  • Members suggest different local groups and entities to invite like 400Trees Gloucester and Seaside Sustainability.

General Discussion

  • Members transition into discussing the guest speakers for the event and their presentation content.
  • Staff plans to have Dillan Patel from the DOER/Green Communities, Jeremy Koo from MAPC, and Ibrahim Lopez-Hernandez from the City of Beverly speak as guests.
  • The Sustainability Coordinator will be presenting as well.
  • Chairman Sam Cleaves asks for an agenda and for bios from guest speakers so he may introduce them at the event in order.
  • Jock Bourneuf suggests having a presenter discuss solar.
  • The Sustainability Coordinator doesn't believe there is time for an additional presentation if they want to do a Q&A portion and have time to clean up before the venue closes.
  • Jock clarifies the intent of the event; to inform and ask questions about the building code.
  • Courtney Allen mentions advertising the open seat on the Commission to attendees.
  • Members and staff move onto reviewing and editing the Sustainability Coordinator's presentation for the forum.
  • John Moskal suggests adding a baseline year to data within the presentation and clarifying if it's annual and what the cost savings are.
  • Courtney Allen and Em Strubell suggest clarifying the 'Million-Dollar-Club' portion of the presentation
  • Em suggests emphasizing the money saved aspect of energy savings and the program benefits, and emphasizing the guaranteed funding of the designation.
  • Courtney Allen suggests clarifying the vehicle policy requirement is municipal only.
  • Sustainability Coordinator explains the Zero-Emission Vehicle First Policy requirement of the Climate Leader designation to the Commission after Sam Cleaves and John Moskal ask questions.
  • Funding for EV purchases and leases doubles under the new program.
  • Members discuss the ambitious goal of getting the building code passed by December and how long it will take to get to a vote.
  • Members and staff discuss the content of the slideshow which covers potential projects.
  • Members discuss a solar canopy at O'Maley Middle School as a potential project.
  • Members suggest a call to action slide to encourage residents to positively engage with City Councilors and the Mayor about the Specialized Code.
  • Members discuss the practicality of the building code, both the in-place Stretch Code and the potential Specialized Stretch Code.
  • Jock suggests bringing in Community Electricity Aggregation, some members worry about information overload while others think it's relevant as a City program.

End of Meeting

  • Members agree to meet on August 27th.
  • Jock Bourneuf moves to adjourn the meeting, seconded by John Moskal
  • Roll Call Vote
  • Aye: Jock Bourneuf, John Moskal, Sam Cleaves, Linda Brayton, Em Strubell, and Courtney Allen

Meeting adjourned at 6:00pm

-Respectfully submitted by Bailey McCaul

Agenda

Agenda not recorded here. It may be in the city's Archive Center.

Source

This meeting is known from its minutes in the City of Gloucester Archive Center. First recorded by OpenGloucester on .