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Select Board withdraws partial federal grant application for fire-station solar project, approves generator change order
Summary
After learning a federal/community project funding source would only cover roughly 35% of a proposed solar-and-battery package and asked for a sizeable local match, the Swansea Select Board voted to withdraw the application; the board separately approved a $35,040 change order to upgrade the fire-station generator and related electrical work.
The Swansea Select Board voted to withdraw a pending grant application for a proposed solar-plus-battery package at the town’s fire station after the funding office indicated it would provide only about 35% of the project cost and asked the town to commit roughly half the balance.
Paul (chair of the town’s Energy Commission) told the board the funding reviewer said the project ranked among the strongest submissions but that committee rules limited the award to roughly 35 percent and the town would need to promise roughly $200,000 to move the application forward. "I don't know if you got $200,000 lying around anywhere," Paul said, describing the office's request for a local match.
Board members discussed alternatives — including waiting a year to reapply, pursuing other grant streams, or creating a small capital reserve for energy projects — but said the town is not in a position to authorize a large special appropriation on short notice. Selectman (speaker 3) moved to withdraw the application and the board adopted the motion by voice vote.
On a related construction item the board authorized a $35,040 change order for the fire station project to cover three items: upgrading the on-site generator from 80 kW to 100 kW (to allow the generator to power the elevator and other loads), low-voltage wiring and labor to bring IT infrastructure upstairs, and relocation of the meter/pedestal and associated piping. Staff explained that an $70,000 budgeted amount covered the generator but the change order reflected specific upgrades and additional site work. Selectman (speaker 3) moved to authorize the change order; the motion passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: The board’s decision to withdraw the application halts the town’s immediate chance to install the resilience measures tied to the fire station without a clear local funding plan. The generator upgrade and wiring change order, which the board approved, are now part of the project’s near-term costs and were described as necessary to ensure the facility’s safety and operability.
What’s next: Staff and the Energy Commission were asked to continue pursuing grants and to explore options for a modest capital reserve that could be used for future energy resilience projects. The board did not authorize any special appropriations at the meeting and noted the town can reapply if more favorable funding terms become available.
Sources and attribution: Quotes and attributions come from public input by the Energy Commission chair and motions recorded during the Select Board meeting. Direct attributions in this report follow the meeting speaker list and functional roles recorded in the transcript. The board’s vote to withdraw the application and the change-order authorization were both recorded by voice vote; individual member tallies were not listed in the transcript.
