Solar Canopy Projects at Town Facilities

Solar canopy projects at town facilities first received formal presentation during a Finance Committee meeting on 2026-03-30, where Select Energy and the Combined Facility Director outlined 25-year power purchase agreements for installations at Curtis Middle School, Haskell Field, and the Police Station.

The committee postponed any formal vote on the warrant articles to consult further with the Energy and Sustainability Committee, citing debate over whether the projects represented sound economic investments or primarily policy-driven moves toward renewable energy.

On 2026-05-05 the Select Board discussed the solar articles alongside concerns over the use of town resources to purchase related political signs, seeking legal clarification on potential ethics issues.

Later the same day at Town Meeting, Articles 33, 34, and 35 authorized the town to proceed with the projects via 25-year PPAs requiring no capital outlay, with Article 33 passing via hand vote and Articles 34 and 35 each passing by more than a two-thirds majority.

Residents and the Park and Recreation Commission had raised concerns during the meeting about visual and noise impacts, parking loss, and possible violations of land protections, while proponents emphasized the PPA model's low-risk structure and energy cost reductions.

The meeting record states that the town may now proceed with design work, geotechnical studies, and entering into a lease/PPA, with commitments to involve stakeholders such as the Park and Rec Commission.