December
The Franconia Energy Commission met December 16, 2025. Attendees approved November minutes. Regarding the Town Hall Solar System, electrician Justin Poulton manages burying lines and pole removal, extending into 2026. The disconnected utility meter will be returned to Eversource to stop $21 monthly rental costs. Pole removal requires replacing attached streetlights. The Commission noted the IRA program ends December 31, 2026, informing potential solar expansion at the Town Garage/Transfer Station and Dow Pavilion. Eric and Dave will complete Dow clock lighting. Bob will organize Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative's NHSaves Button Up workshop at Town Hall in 2026. After an audit on December 4, 2025, a revisit is planned for January 2026 to fix VFD pumps at Water 5 on Water Works Rd. Future audits should include Mittersill water systems 1, 2, and 3. The 2025 energy report is due February 3, 2026. The Board of Selectmen pursues a $27,000 refund from Fidium/Consolidated. The next meeting is January 20, 2026, at 4:30 PM. Source: http://www.franconianh.org/uploads/1/1/6/8/11680191/energy_commission_minutes_december_2025.pdf
FRANCONIA ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES December 16, 2025, 4:30 PM In attendance: Dan, Chris, Dave, Eric, Bob Minutes from November Energy Commission meeting approved. Franconia Town Hall Solar Energy System • Pole removal in front of the Welcome Center, including burying the lines, is being managed by electrician Justin Poulton. Work will extend into 2026. • Meter at the utility pole (72 358 500) is not connected to anything, though it still displays a reading. The meter needs to be returned to Eversource (rental ~ $21/month). • Removal of the pole will also remove the attached streetlight. Replacement of the streetlight with alternative lighting should be incorporated into this project. • Municipal solar expansion o IRA program ends Dec 31, 2026 o Franconia expansion at Town Garage/Transfer Station (combined?) and Dow Pavilion Dow clock lighting: to be completed by Eric and Dave, TBD Energy Efficiency Programs • The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative has announced that they will be presenting the informative NHSaves Button Up workshops. Bob will head this up for Franconia, with a workshop at the Town Hall later in 2026. • Replacement of town buildings’ fossil fuel heating with heat pumps Energy Audits • Restart energy audits, as part of reviewing town energy usage. • Franconia Safety building: how is energy use of this lightly used facility managed? • Include water system, as this is the single, largest consumer of municipal electricity. Partial energy audit of the Franconia Water Treatment Department was conducted 12/4/2025 by Rachel Pluchino, Franconia Water Dept, Pete of LRW Water Services (operator), Steven Boles, Process Energy Services, Christina Rambo, NH DES. o Energy audit of Water 5 on Water Works Rd and Water 4 on Coal Hill Rd. Water 5 audit was incomplete because the VFD pumps (variable frequency drive) were programmed to only operate at 0% or 100%, defeating the VFD optimization feature. A revisit is planned for January, 2026. o A more comprehensive audit should include water systems 1,2 and 3 at Mittersill site. Energy use by town buildings • Handout (emailed) details data capture activities. We will use Excel for this activity for the 2025 report, which is to be submitted by February 3, 2026 for the town financial report. Ongoing Town Business • BOS is pursuing a refund from Fidium/Consolidated for $27,000 for work not done. Next meeting: January 20, 2026 @ 4:30 at the Town Hall. Meeting Adjourned 5:50 pm Respectfully submitted, Chris Dubé