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County consultant delays slow solar planning; missed EECBG rounds noted
Summary
County staff reported repeated delays with a federal consultant hired to advise on a county solar project, saying the pause and turnover hobbled the county’s ability to apply for earlier DOE EECBG funding rounds and that the consultant will present options publicly to commissioners at a future meeting.
Strafford County commissioners discussed delays with a consultant contracted to assess solar options for county facilities, and county staff warned the pause and turnover among consultant personnel had prevented the county from applying for two rounds of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding.
County staff said they re-sent updated data and bid documents to the consultant and expect a public meeting — attended by all three commissioners — to review the consultant’s options. Staff described three key questions the consultant will assess: the range of project options, potential advantages of county funding versus third-party sale of power, and whether the county should privatize some elements of a solar program. The county also said it had shared technical contacts (including Chuck Nickerson and Jim Monahan) and prior bid documents to assist the consultant.
Staff expressed frustration that earlier technical-assistance pauses and personnel turnover meant the county missed opportunities to apply for EECBG rounds; they said the federal funding could have supported solar projects. The county noted that Rockingham County’s recent solar and building projects were shared as a model and that local entities including Pearsarge and Kearsarge have also approached the county with proposals.
Officials said they expect the consultant to return findings in a public meeting; no contract award or procurement decision was recorded at the July 12 meeting.
