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Board approves PowerSmart energy‑storage outreach; sustainability committee to run town campaign
Summary
Selectmen authorized the town manager to sign a memorandum of understanding with PowerSmart/SmartPower to run a community battery‑storage outreach campaign similar to past Solarize efforts; the program is funded by a DOE grant and requires the town to host outreach and meeting space.
The Board of Selectmen on Jan. 13 authorized the town manager to execute a memorandum of understanding with PowerSmart/SmartPower to run a town campaign promoting residential battery storage and related incentives.
Mark Scully, chair of the Sustainability Committee, described the program as modeled on the earlier Solarize campaigns that helped residents evaluate rooftop solar. The Energy Storage Solutions program is funded through a grant and offers a turnkey outreach platform—websites, flyers and coordinated events—and uses a State‑vetted installer list rather than naming a single preferred vendor.
Scully and Selectmen said the campaign carries little municipal cost beyond staff time to publish press releases, provide meeting space, and attend events. The town’s role would be promotional and logistical: provide meeting rooms, help publicize events through town channels, and host workshops that will demystify storage and link homeowners to incentives and vetted installers.
Board members asked about program value, expected participation and the availability of state or federal incentives. Scully and staff said the program includes upfront rebates and that batteries can provide payments to homeowners in some state utility programs when their battery supplies grid services during high demand. The presenters also said battery storage is especially effective when paired with rooftop solar.
The board voted to authorize the town manager to execute the MOU, which the sustainability committee and staff said would be followed by outreach events and regular program reporting. There was no municipal funding requested; the program uses grant funding and state incentive programs for customer rebates.
