[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6138734,"mediaKeyId","5582344-b8e3a3f5a4fd0f86667ea0649f45348d","parentId",5582344,"title","Cumberland council authorizes manager to negotiate buyout, expansion and new PPA with Revision Energy","audioSeconds",6908,"startMs",328000,"endMs",7236000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582344-b8e3a3f5a4fd0f86667ea0649f45348d&start=328&end=7236","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582344-b8e3a3f5a4fd0f86667ea0649f45348d/thumbnail_328000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6138734/Maine/Cumberland-council-authorizes-manager-to-negotiate-buyout-expansion-and-new-PPA-with-Revision-Energy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138734-7c7dd853ace76376edc1d1f76fd76fae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508383&Signature=lHRPiztFsV~OClDlNWvNNeKxr9JQcC-D80Zy1~2I3TycP76uihG2jXfXLv1G~QITdgothgxfJb4EYoVJcA2usLLCgkuTOg6ktuOJpxv4wyWiaIci9O7halgzjUV7SROzAOPqFBr-Pv8DQVpWXSVBQg~pVZFLkxqLmX~rI0FA0vqHtdNXpMMZ-srqNyVMyXnHCD4r2EIJ1KaJh5tYOfqx9vkAU6F1CyBBCjXFMi~amU-OY9ueGH-W86zeiSi4TkW11TjNWF3fOwPKQMu7rWF3hl8FG80x2gRT94wLsX8IGksy0KjQjhmLk81ppU6tPtSyivMq~wXtcKBros1yzZUXUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Cumberland, Maine","date","2025-08-14T12:27:40.207Z","article","Cumberland Town Council on Monday authorized the town manager to negotiate with Revision Energy on purchase options for the existing solar array, a proposed expansion and a new power‑purchase agreement, the council voted unanimously after a lengthy workshop and public discussion.

Council members said the decision was time‑sensitive because federal and state changes affect tax credits, permitting and interconnection timetables. Revision Energy representative Guy Marshall told the council the project team must start paperwork and equipment procurement in the coming weeks to preserve federal incentives and the current net‑energy billing terms.

Marshall said the proposed addition will be separate from the town’s existing tariff‑credit array so the older system retains its grandfathered monetary credit. “We don’t wanna change that. It’s an opportunity you will never get again,” Marshall said of the existing tariff credits, and he described the new section as producing “kilowatt hour credits … it’s all going out to the grid, every drop of it.”

Why it matters: Marshall and town staff said combining the existing field and the proposed second phase would bring municipal solar production to about 1.1 million kilowatt‑hours a year if both phases are completed — roughly a megawatt of capacity by the state formula used for permitting. Marshall said phase 1 has produced about 636,443 kWh and phase 2 would add roughly 459,000 kWh. Those volumes affect how credits can be shared among municipal accounts and the town’s budgeting for electricity costs.

Technical and regulatory details: Revision described two different credit systems used with Central Maine Power (CMP): tariff (monetary) credits tied to medium general service accounts and kilowatt‑hour credits that can be assigned to residential and small general service accounts across CMP territory. Marshall outlined current rates during the workshop: he said medium general service accounts are charged roughly 11¢/kWh while the PUC credit for tariff production is about 20.22¢/kWh; he gave a residential figure of about 23.4¢/kWh as an example of how kilowatt‑hour credits offset higher retail charges.

Marshall also told the council the state Public Utilities Commission last year limited distributed arrays so that community‑scale projects face a 1‑megawatt cap under new PUC rules that took effect Dec. 31, 2024. That change, he said, means the town must structure additions carefully if it wants to maximize production without triggering different, more complex interconnection review.

Money and the federal tax credit: Marshall and town staff told councilors investors had been lined up but that federal changes to the 30% investment tax credit make timing critical. He said the project team intends to use the federal “safe harbor” pathway — buying modules and inverters and filing a signed interconnection/net‑energy billing application before Dec. 31, 2025 — to preserve the 30% credit for investors. He also noted an IRS requirement that investor owners hold an array for five full years before a sale to the host (town) is allowed and described an option to buy the array at the start of year six.

Council discussion and next steps: Councilors asked for financing options and cash‑flow models. Town Manager Matt Sturgis and Marshall agreed to return with refined numbers and scenarios — including the cost to buy out existing phase 1, options for buy‑downs, and whether the town should pursue outright purchase or a multi‑year power‑purchase agreement — so the council could compare projected savings and debt service. Public commenter Peter Bingham, who served on the council that negotiated the original deal, urged the town to take advantage of the current tax and depreciation rules.

Formal action: The council voted to authorize the town manager to enter negotiations with Revision Energy over purchase of the existing field and expansion and to negotiate a new power‑purchase agreement. The motion passed unanimously.

What remains unresolved: Staff and Revision must complete an interconnection application with CMP, finalize investor and procurement schedules to meet safe‑harbor timings, and produce a financing package for council review. Councilors asked the manager to return with concrete buyout and bonding scenarios at the next scheduled council meeting so members can weigh buy‑out versus continuing a PPA.

Sources: Workshop and council meeting with Revision Energy (Guy Marshall), town manager and councilors; public comments and staff presentations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council & Workshop - August 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Cumberland Town Council on Monday authorized the town manager to negotiate with Revision Energy on purchase options for the existing solar array, a proposed expansion and a new power‑purchase agreement, the council voted unanimously after a lengthy workshop and public discussion.","taxTitle","Town Council , Cumberland Center, Cumberland County, Maine","taxId",69260,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6138718,"Housing authority to consider means test for new applicants; comprehensive‑plan workshops to follow survey analysis",0,7637000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582344-b8e3a3f5a4fd0f86667ea0649f45348d&start=7637&end=7637","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582344-b8e3a3f5a4fd0f86667ea0649f45348d/thumbnail_7637000.jpg","/articles/6138718/Maine/Housing-authority-to-consider-means-test-for-new-applicants-comprehensiveplan-workshops-to-follow-survey-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138718-3020ac1bc23fc53dddaf65e4f45bf897/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508383&Signature=M1yj~tceYqUqT0cH4btVLNiY8P5tK7DZFd7XAdD1PlzKqhSFitLyK54kE406yLJnXozZKZ9Qlk0TgWpgA2RdLBORJiq42wDdRBuv8u6JD-niUqrOxZI4Qy4pjdzciQuAQ-pImhbaBGlsdrS-nda82fpCkpnpumlTLUJZMIBCTAwpmb0qzSwcgnUCFTNJ9a3iUlSSW90ZR3PlCClWHl04zeKBH4Cj8C3o20DjNNC6w-gT0X2ush1UkAoUjs9EXHf4uQ5SYIlwkcFF6m3oj9yVXbHA5fGVmai4lSjtLXBzZ6T3MVKVLVw8F9sMfPKfyG8umsCEcM9Oy26lqH1N~3OZLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cumberland Housing Authority is beginning to explore whether to implement a means test for new applicants, councilors said Monday, and the town’s comprehensive‑plan effort will soon move from survey collection into community workshops.

Councilor Thorson told the council the housing authority has decided to “wrestle with the idea of a means test” because the current admissions policy does not include one. She said the review is intended to ensure limited subsidized units serve the residents with the greatest need and that any new means test would apply to future applicants and not retroactively to existing tenants.

In the council’s update on the comprehensive plan, staff said initial survey results have been returned and that the selected consultant, the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), included multiple public workshops in its contract. Town staff said they will analyze the survey results and schedule in‑person workshops across town to gather broader public input before bringing recommendation back to the council.

No formal votes were taken; councilors said they expect the housing authority and planning staff to return with recommended language and workshop dates.","The Cumberland Housing Authority will examine whether to require a means test for new applicants, and town staff said comprehensive‑plan community workshops and in‑person outreach will follow analysis of an initial community survey.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6138724,"Town manager: Greeley Road to reopen; senior tax assistance and property‑tax programs open with information sessions",149,3756000,3905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582344-b8e3a3f5a4fd0f86667ea0649f45348d&start=3756&end=3905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582344-b8e3a3f5a4fd0f86667ea0649f45348d/thumbnail_3756000.jpg","/articles/6138724/Maine/Town-manager-Greeley-Road-to-reopen-senior-tax-assistance-and-propertytax-programs-open-with-information-sessions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138724-7e2df7a783d813ec8e1577045f7b0f93/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508383&Signature=KCGMM0n40AG2Kz0qlw9OQtYlU-U-8v48soeNgbb-hoRXp6K0EDvCH6Y6EPLfR2mPbX91bR3RNBl7Zo2EIQHT3ZZrVpzKgpeiMsxcsxmWWnOAusZwgW2KF9cSe1g3PqsohgUBM5UTguL2Z~HmUpsWSYxRRH2bQ9xFx0v3f5Gneu5vV~C~BRmIor3DFF-hzqUQ7efVwEg65yGCcXqK8X2WUU8XCeHpY49ZoGxDek6~thlUwTMlQQt35ZGqCLymI3cujj~4ylt5zGYW88ga~JDj49dV14vJnmQ1ZDgs8JfIQOC4qsjR~J90lQNG0nOMQEFz6~uciSr9brd7AbskM9hGLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Manager Matt Sturgis told the Cumberland Town Council on Monday that Greeley Road is scheduled to reopen tomorrow afternoon after drainage and paving work, with final guardrail and paving work to be completed under flagging operations.

Sturgis also announced the start of the senior tax assistance rebate program and described walk‑in processing sessions in Council Chambers: tomorrow 9–11 a.m.; Wednesday 9–11 a.m.; and Thursday 2–4 p.m. Sturgis said forms and documentation are available on the town website and that the program will accept rolling applications after these initial sessions.

Regarding the senior property tax stabilization and deferral program, Sturgis said the town had opened applications and planned an informational session on Sept. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. He said staff expect to extend the application period to Oct. 1 in the program’s first year so residents are not rushed.

Sturgis closed his update by listing three fall waste/drop‑off events at the Public Works facility (23 Drown Road): universal waste (electronics) on Oct. 11; bulky item drop‑off on Oct. 18; and document shredding Oct. 25.

Sturgis’s announcements were made during the manager’s report portion of the Aug. 11 council meeting; councilors asked clarifying questions about schedule and road‑work timelines but took no formal votes on these operational items.","Town Manager Matt Sturgis said Greeley Road will reopen tomorrow afternoon, announced the senior tax assistance program start and a senior property tax stabilization/deferral information session set for Sept. 17, and listed three fall Public Works drop‑off events.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":91,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":94,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6138729,"Residents and council press town on new waste contract after pickup changes; manager says staff troubleshooting",609,4365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582344-b8e3a3f5a4fd0f86667ea0649f45348d&start=3756&end=4365","/articles/6138729/Maine/Residents-and-council-press-town-on-new-waste-contract-after-pickup-changes-manager-says-staff-troubleshooting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138729-6aa09665edcd8c66e251574263abb37f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508383&Signature=RPcGkwRqVPmX8G9Yrc7QD~kJcefPYroZ0PSkad7EWg6G5-Rj72ZCoAM21ThrhQ1ScDoxbW45pU3DIC1jRI~rCe2yAZZYfHxokO3sISRd07xcNtWto6pB74HECdkxgDCY2lGbs57ECXQGD4FlAA9FI4JWw4MOq1h6bJ~kFDGWRRaNtTupoKqM71hKgizElaDbkd6hmK0dhJEKVlJDOoQklr4ufWbHH141gGaZTa9ZPqFIsrcA3lvYdbqtmVl5~KQ9WAZahQTB7gdcq6yCvwb0rmn16m4kNXl4LYE19U6SCi41LgChgkaY23Me2oru2y1MMhxaFSHeVbpzx-bEuKliSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents used the council’s public discussion period Monday to press municipal leaders over recent changes to curbside waste collection under the new Casella contract, citing confusion about where to place bins, winter‑time access and bag sizes.

“On Hedge Row … we have to put our garbage cans across the road,” said Bill Young, a resident, describing the practical burden of moving cans into the roadway in winter. Dottie Spalding told the council she heard from neighbors that the new system feels disconnected from residents’ expectations and said some people are hiring private contractors to avoid the new rules. “There’s a tremendous disconnect between the town officials and the residents of Cumberland,” Spalding said.

Town Manager Matt Sturgis told the council staff have been working with residents and Casella to resolve problems and that call volume has started to fall in week two of the new contract. He said crews are troubleshooting route issues and that town staff had worked with a resident on a lake road pickup reconciliation. Sturgis also said crews were tagging non‑compliant cans with yellow stickers to notify residents of what needs to change, and that staff are collecting feedback to refine operations.

Sturgis announced several scheduled collection events at the Public Works facility, 23 Drown Road: a universal waste drop‑off (electronics and e‑waste) on Oct. 11; a bulky‑item drop‑off on Oct. 18; and document shredding and disposal on Oct. 25. He said residents can also bring old recycling bins and trash cans to Public Works between Aug. 22 and Aug. 31.

Councilors asked staff to gather clear, written FAQs about the new program so residents can know which rules come from Casella, which are town policies and what residents can expect in winter. Multiple residents asked whether bag sizes could be changed or consolidated; the town said it would investigate whether different bag options are available and how that would affect the program’s budget and operations.

No formal action was taken; town staff will continue troubleshooting and provide clarifications to residents.","Residents raised complaints about new Casella collection rules and operational problems during public comment; Town Manager Matt Sturgis said staff are troubleshooting and call volumes are dropping, and the town announced upcoming drop‑off events for electronics, bulky items and document shredding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cumberland council authorizes manager to negotiate buyout, expansion and new PPA with Revision Energy

Housing authority to consider means test for new applicants; comprehensive‑plan workshops to follow survey analysis

Town manager: Greeley Road to reopen; senior tax assistance and property‑tax programs open with information sessions

Residents and council press town on new waste contract after pickup changes; manager says staff troubleshooting