At its Aug. 25 meeting, the Cumberland Town Council voted unanimously to purchase the existing Phase 1 solar array on Drowne Road and to authorize Revision Energy to proceed with a Phase 2 expansion and sale to the town.

Town Manager Matt Sturgis told the council the existing array "generates 638,900 kilowatt hours per year, with an annual credit of about a $129,185" that currently offsets town electricity costs. Sturgis and Revision Energy described two financing options: an outright cash purchase of the existing array and construction/ownership of the Phase 2 expansion, or borrowing (a five-year bond-like loan) to spread costs.

The financial picture presented to council
Revision Energy and town finance staff provided the numbers the council used in its decision. The purchase price estimate for the existing Phase 1 array was roughly $670,000$700,000 depending on the payoff date; the Phase 2 construction cost was estimated at about $1.2 million. Sturgis and Revision Energy said the town can capture a short-window federal safe-harbor tax benefit estimated at 30 percent (a pre-construction purchase of major equipment counts as start of construction for the credit), which substantially reduces the net cost. The towns finance director, Helene DeBartolomeo, summarized the municipal comparison: paying cash lowers total cost and yields a roughly six-year payback, while borrowing at an assumed five-year rate (Est. 4.5%) increases total cost and extends the break-even to more than seven years.

Operational and revenue details
Revision's presentation included avoided-cost estimates and expected recurring revenues: the Phase 1 array produces roughly $129,185 in annual avoided electricity cost; Phase 2 was projected to supply about 460,000 kWh annually and avoid about $95,000 in electricity costs, and Revision estimated an additional annual renewable energy credit (REC) payment of roughly $15,000 for the new array. The combined avoided costs and RECs were presented as roughly $230,000 to $245,000 annually. Revision also recommended setting aside modest funds for end-of-life disposal (estimated $25,000 to $30,000) and noted routine annual maintenance contracts of roughly $2,900 per array.

Public comment and council discussion
Local renewable-energy engineer Bill Follett spoke in favor of the purchase, calling solar "the cheapest form of energy that humans have ever created" and urging the town to capture the tax-credit opportunity before the relevant rules expire. Council members debated financing alternatives but emphasized the long-term certainty the arrays deliver for municipal power costs. Finance Director DeBartolomeo said, "it's about a 12.7% return on your cash," and the town manager added that purchasing avoids interest costs and that the town has reserves to proceed without jeopardizing other capital projects.

Council action and next steps
Councilor [motion maker identified in the meeting record] moved to purchase Phase 1, authorize Revision Energy to build Phase 2 and sell it to the town; the motion passed unanimously. Staff were authorized to complete the purchase agreement and work with Revision Energy to finalize safe-harbor procurement steps so the town may claim the 30% tax-related benefit. Sturgis and the finance director will return to the council with closing dates and a schedule for the Phase 2 construction payments.

Ending
Councilors framed the vote as both a fiscal and sustainability decision: buying the arrays reduces exposure to future electricity-price increases, locks in predictable operating costs and advances the towns sustainability goals. Staff will post bid/contract documents and schedule closing steps needed to claim the safe-harbor tax benefit and commence construction.