Sudbury solar installs nearing operation; DPW, Fairbanks systems to offset majority of building use

Byron Lubmans, with Select, told the Town of Sudbury Energy and Sustainability Committee that electrical wiring for the Department of Public Works (DPW) rooftop project is complete and that panels are scheduled to be installed this week, with a town request for permission to operate expected in the first quarter of this year.

The update matters because the DPW and Fairbanks systems are sized to cover most of each building’s electricity use and to provide net-metering credits to other town accounts. "We received the certificate of completion on the electrical wiring, which is a significant kind of milestone in that it enables us to secure the smart incentive for that project," Lubmans said. He told the committee crews were mobilizing for panel installation and that permission to operate would follow the final filings with Eversource.

Lubmans described the Fairbanks system as producing roughly 388,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in year one, representing about 77% of that facility’s modeled annual usage, and the DPW system at roughly 315,000 kWh per year, or about 85% of that building’s modeled consumption. "So that one, as we modeled it out, we will be fully offsetting that building's usage and bill and then have access for other town accounts," he said. He also cautioned that early actual bills for newly commissioned buildings can be higher than forecast as operations and systems are optimized.

Committee members and staff discussed design and permitting details. Lubmans said the Fairbanks roof uses structural insulated panels (SIP) and that fall-protection anchors must tie into the lower metal or plywood layer: "what we need to do is we're just making sure that our fall protection goes to that bottom layer... we need to make sure that we have enough screws for the areas of the roof that are wood on that bottom layer just for the fall protection and safety." The committee asked staff to confirm safety details before final mobilization.

The Atkinson (pool) installation was described as intentionally sized to maximize available incentive levels. Lubmans said the design was kept just under a key incentive threshold (about 250 kW DC) to secure higher per-kilowatt incentives and an expedited Eversource review: "our system was gonna be plus or minus 250 kW DC... so we came in at just under that to secure the higher incentive and to also get a faster, expedited review through Eversource." That sizing decision means first‑year production for Atkinson is lower, and staff noted they will continue to monitor bills and optimize building operations.

The committee was told Fire Station 3 roof work is complete and that an RFP for a small direct‑purchase solar installation could be issued in roughly six to eight months; Select said it is not pursuing a power‑purchase agreement for that small roof. Fire Station 2’s roof work was discussed but will likely not be included in the coming Town Meeting funding cycle.

No formal votes were taken at the meeting; the session was an informational update on project schedules, safety design details, incentive filings with Eversource (ISA/interconnection), and production modeling. Committee members asked to be kept apprised of the Eversource interconnection timeline and the town’s permission‑to‑operate date.

Lubmans closed by asking committee members to direct questions to him or staff; the committee then moved on to other agenda items.