Energy panel adopts new protocols, elects clerk

Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee · Meeting of July 20, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee adopted new administrative protocols and elected Laurie Murphy as its first clerk. Members voted 5-0 to approve amended May and June minutes after fixing several typos, then voted unanimously to send a revised two-page protocols document to City Manager George Proakis. Member Susan Ledoux said a separate group is seeking a meeting with Proakis over his decision to delay the city's building energy reporting and disclosure ordinance, saying "we kind of want to know what's going on." Energy Manager Silas Feiler reported a DPW building's energy use intensity fell from 43 to 15 after a heat pump conversion, and said the city no longer runs any oil heating systems.

The committee also met new Energy Advocate Em Schule and discussed Watertown Electricity Choice's 15.9-cent rate.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Minutes Corrections
• Administrative Protocols Adopted, New Clerk Role Created
• Clerk Election
• BERDO Implementation Delay Raises Concerns
• Meet and Greet: New Energy Advocate Em Schule
• Sustainability Manager Report
• Watertown Electricity Choice Rate and REC Discussion
• Energy Manager Report: Building Retrofit Data
• New Business: Waterhopper Water Taxi Update
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,984 words

Source: the Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee meeting of July 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.