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Energy Committee Guide

Form and Structure a Town Energy Committee

1. Assemble a great committee

The first step is to identify citizens representing various constituencies who are interested in working on energy and climate change issues. Secure support and establish a coalition of partners who will lend capacity, diversity, and expertise to the efforts.

Identify an individual willing to chair the committee. This job includes calling meetings, drafting agendas, and keeping the process moving. This person could be the same as the project champion

A town energy committee is an excellent way to encourage community volunteerism from individuals who may not have been involved in town activities or citizen action in the past. Look to fresh faces for some of the committee members - existing town committee members are often tapped out!

2. Select the best structure for your committee

There are numerous ways to approach this process. Identify the most appropriate group structure to advance the town's energy or climate action project. The structure of the group may depend on such factors as buy-in from the local government, the municipality's capacity to "staff" the committee, volunteer capacity, the complexity of the project, or the most strategic way to advance short- and long-term goals. Here are four examples of the type of committee structure you could employ. Pick the one that works best for your community:

Administrative Committee
Typically, this type of committee would form under the local governing body or ranking administrative official in the town. Some elements of this committee worth attention during formation are:

• These committees may have more legitimacy in the public's eye, more direct access to the town and the Board of Selectmen, and municipal funding for initiatives.
• These committees would likely include municipal department heads and other officials, and may function more effectively at start-up because of their greater access to information and town records.
• If comprised of municipal officials or employees, such a committee may appear to be less responsive to the citizens.
• With less room for other members, such committees may have difficulty in bringing new citizens into the effort and public outreach.
• As with any government-related committee structure, such groups must be cognizant of attempts to influence their outcomes and limit their autonomy. The committee must be ready to deal with such influences by focusing on their goals, objectives, and mission statements.

The following are examples of Ordinances and Administrative Directives to form this type of committee.

Keene Ordinance
Nashua Ordinance
Model By-law

Conservation Commission Subcommittee
If the governing body has signaled reluctance in supporting these efforts or is not ready or willing to advance a proposed project initiative, it might be more beneficial to form a subcommittee of the Conservation Commission.

• Such a committee may have less buy-in from government officials and have an uphill battle for municipal projects.
• These committees may find more support from the Conservation Commission in terms of educational efforts.
• Such committees may benefit from the established reputation and educational channels of the Conservation Commission.
• Committees in this form would likely focus on education and influence rather than actual projects for their accomplishments.

Planning Board Subcommittee
The Planning Board may represent a balanced approach for some communities. Given its experience with fiscal realities (through its own examination of municipal expenses gathered mostly though CIP planning and impact fee development) and its foundation in the development process, planning boards are exposed to a wide range of development issues, costs, and should have been exposed to a number of issues relating to environmental impacts, economic development, and utility planning.

The Planning Board provides a unique model within which to operate for New Hampshire. The State has declared (RSA 672:1) that one of the central purposes of planning and zoning is to achieve the following through legislative action:
III-a. Proper regulations encourage energy efficient patterns of development, the use of solar energy, including adequate access to direct sunlight for solar energy uses, and the use of other renewable forms of energy, and energy conservation...

Further specific authority has been granted for planning and suggesting projects and municipal improvements that relate to the future needs of a community with respect to energy and utilities. RSA 674:1. The Planning Board is also charged with community and fiscal planning for energy and other municipal facilities in its master plan and the capital improvements program. RSA 674:2 and 674:3. Finally, the planning board is the primary author and administrator of development ordinances and regulations. This role includes specific authority to adopt codes that are more strict than state building codes. RSA 155-A:2(VI). Additional specific authority is granted to encourage the installation of renewable energy facilities through zoning (RSA 674:17), and development regulations (RSA 674:36).

• Such a committee would benefit from the information already available to the planning board in the master plan and, if present, a capital improvements program.
• With support and input from the board, these committees would have greater ability to assess and influence the regulatory process for the town if such a project is desired.
• These committees may not be as closely connected to the day-to-day fiscal decisions as an administrative committee but may benefit from long-range planning.
• The planning board support could include funding, expertise, and consistency as these committees form.

Ad-hoc Energy Committee
The most "grassroots" form for an energy committee is the ad-hoc version. Potentially existing completely outside the municipal process, such a committee still has its own benefits and concerns and may be the only effective format in certain cases.

• Such committees could rise out of communities that have not passed the Climate Change Resolution, or where there is simply a lack of will or support to follow through with the resolution's recommendation for a town-authorized committee.
• These committees would be challenged to prove their worth and must make important initial decisions about their goals and objectives.
• Committees may initially decide to try to influence the town administration to recognize it or may chose to forego this challenge and dive right into some real grassroots projects.
• Committees may find themselves leaning toward this form if they are inclined to be free of any influence or control from the government structure.
• One great opportunity in such committees is the ability to look beyond the town's boundaries for members, projects, and influence.