Centreville council asks for competitive bids on town solar partnership; members raise farmland and branding concerns

Centreville officials on June 26 discussed a proposed community-solar partnership that would offer the town and individual subscribers a 10% reduction in energy costs. Town staff presented a company memo and said the firm offered a 10% credit; for the town’s accounts alone staff estimated savings of approximately $20,000 to $25,000 annually if the town signed up for the program.

Council members and staff raised a series of questions and concerns about the proposal, and directed staff to seek competitive bids rather than commit to a single vendor. Concerns reported in council discussion included: - farmland use: several council members said they were sympathetic to renewable energy but worried that aggressive community-solar expansion could drive conversion of agricultural land to large solar farms; - branding and marketing: the town requested contract language preventing the vendor from using town branding or implying the town was marketing the provider to residents; staff said the company had adjusted branding language in response to town review; - customer commitment and contract terms: staff said residents would not be “locked in,” there is no long-term contract preventing opt-out, and residents could join or leave the program without penalty; the town’s own participation likewise would not appear to lock the town into an exclusive long-term contract under the version reviewed by staff.

Council consensus was to issue a solicitation (request for proposals) so multiple companies may bid and to invite the current vendor to present to the council at a future meeting if needed. Town staff said they would check with the regional council of governments (COG) and nearby municipalities to learn whether others in Queen Anne’s County had enrolled in the same program or had relevant experience. Staff also committed to follow up on branding language and to provide any additional contract changes recommended by the town attorney.

Background details recorded in the meeting - Town staff estimated municipal savings at roughly $20,000–$25,000 per year at a 10% credit from the vendor if the town enrolled the town’s accounts only. The vendor also proposed a 10% credit to individual customers who signed directly. - Staff said the vendor’s model does not require residents to be locked into a subscription; the vendor had described subscribers as able to enter and exit the program without contractual penalties. - Council members recommended issuing a competitive solicitation rather than selecting a single vendor directly.

Next steps Town staff will draft a solicitation for community-solar services, check peer municipal experience, and, if requested, schedule the vendor to present more detailed information at a future council meeting.