Greenwich Town Meeting approves indemnification for Green Skies solar power agreement

The Greenwich Representative Town Meeting convened on March 10, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, culminating in a significant resolution regarding a power purchase agreement with GreenSky's LLC for solar energy at the Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Center.

The meeting began with the introduction of the final item, item number 17, presented by Kate Bush, the new town administrator. The resolution aimed to approve the use of indemnification or insurance to protect GreenSky's LLC under the terms of the power purchase agreement. The agreement is designed to allow the town to utilize solar energy, with the potential for significant cost savings.

Bush outlined that the town's risk management department could secure insurance coverage to fulfill the indemnification requirements. The resolution was moved and seconded, prompting reports from various committees that had reviewed the item.

Greg Zorthian from the Finance Committee reported that the committee had passed the resolution with a vote of 12-0 after thorough discussion. He highlighted that the agreement would save the town approximately $22,000 annually, totaling over $400,000 throughout the contract's duration. Cheryl Moss, chair of the Public Works Committee, echoed this sentiment, noting that the indemnification would only cost the town $3,000 per year, making it a financially sound decision.

Catherine La Balbo, chairwoman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, also reported a unanimous vote of 12-0, mentioning that while there were questions about the solar panel installation, they recognized these concerns fell outside the scope of the current resolution.

Eleanor, representing the Legal and Regulatory Committee, provided additional context, explaining that the town typically does not approve indemnification clauses due to charter restrictions. However, this resolution specifically sought approval for an insurance policy to cover indemnification. She noted some concerns among committee members regarding the agreement's language and the timing of the discussions, which limited their ability to fully assess the details.

Following the committee reports, the meeting opened the floor for debate, but no members signed up to speak. The meeting concluded with a call to vote on the resolution, marking a pivotal step towards implementing solar energy solutions for the town. The outcome of the vote will be crucial for the town's energy strategy and financial planning moving forward.