Natick Plans Solar Project With Green Grant
Officials in Natick are hoping to partner with a private company to install a 100-kilowatt solar panel system on the roof of a local middle school.
Thanks to a $173,526 green communities grant from the state last week, town officials are moving forward with plans to solicit bids to rent the space on the roof of John F. Kennedy Middle School to a private company for a 20-year period.
The winning company, officials hope, will be able to qualify for federal solar installation tax credits and install the solar panel array. Then, officials hope to enter into a multi-year power purchase agreement to buy the energy produced at the site.
Because the federal tax credits expire in December, Bob Bois, the town's environmental compliance officer, said bids will be accepted until Nov. 10.
Going Green
The plan in Natick, in addition to the middle school project, also includes opportunities for a company to install solar panels on 17 other town buildings in the future.
"This is an opportunity for us to begin some sort of relationship with a company," Bois said.
It makes more sense to rent the space to a company because as a private entity, it would be able to take advantage of the tax credits, unlike the town.
Natick is using $75,000 of its $173,000 grant to purchase power produced by the new solar panel installation. Businesses can get a copy of the bid by e-mailing town procurement officer Christopher Bradley at cbradley@natickma.org.
Meanwhile, other communities across MetroWest are using the green communities grant money for similar purposes.
Sudbury, for example, received $136,238 and will use the money to install digital lighting controls in town buildings and for a digital heating control system at the Lincoln-Sudbury High School.
The town has also purchased an infrared camera that contractors and homeowners can use to test the efficiency of new construction projects, according to Bill Braun, chairman of the Sudbury energy and sustainability committee.
John Murray, assistant town manger in Acton, said the town will be using about $90,000 of the $150,000 grant it received to do energy efficient repairs at the local library. Another $25,000 in improvements will be made at town hall.
Acton is also spending $10,000 to conduct an outreach campaign, through the schools and the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, encouraging students and businesses to invest in energy upgrades.
The green communities program began in 2008 with the passage of the Green Communities Act.
To obtain the designation of a green community, municipalities must complete a five-part process, which includes changing zoning laws to allow by-right installation of energy efficient generation facilities or research and development manufacturing resources; allowing expedited permitting of those energy-related facilities; committing to a 20 percent reduction of base-line energy consumption within five years; agreeing to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles; and implementing higher energy-efficiency building code standards for new construction.
As more communities meet those standards, the amount of money for each green community could decrease because the money will be spread out between more recipients, according to Murray in Acton. But, that's a tradeoff he's willing to make.
"On the other side, we're helping to improve the environment," Murray said.
That also means it's important for the towns to get as much out of every penny they receive now, he said.
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