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Selectmen approve resolutions to pursue $30M school solar project and grant applications
Summary
The Board approved four school-specific resolutions to enable state grant applications and interconnection work for a roughly $30 million solar project; the board voted unanimously on each resolution after questions about funding, risk and the fast timetable tied to tax-credit deadlines.
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to approve four resolutions authorizing staff to proceed with applications and preliminary funding steps for a multi-site school photovoltaic project and to pursue state school-construction grants and interconnection approvals.
Scott Andrews moved and Al Bruno seconded the motions approving the four sets of resolutions. The amounts (stated as “in an amount not to exceed”) were: Bungay Elementary School $5,200,000; Chatfield LePresti Elementary School $8,600,000; Seymour Middle School $7,050,000; and Seymour High School $8,959,000. Each motion carried on voice vote with the board recording aye votes and Chair participation.
Staff described the project as a combined rooftop and ground-mounted array program aggregated for school construction grants and for participation in the NRES program and federal investment tax-credit (ITC) timelines. Presenters said the full project budget is on the order of $30 million and that acting quickly on interconnection and grant timelines could preserve up to roughly $8–9 million in ITC/direct-pay value under current federal provisions. The project pro forma shown to the board, staff said, would be viable even without capturing the full ITC benefit.
Board members asked for and received clarifications about funding, risk and oversight: the town intends to place solar revenues in an enterprise fund that would pay project expenses and debt service; any remaining enterprise funds would be allocated by a committee for building repairs and other capital needs. Staff said no contractor was being authorized tonight and that contracts would include a notice-to-proceed tied to milestones; Johnson Controls was mentioned as the firm that had supported guarantees in the project pro forma.
What happens next: staff will submit the school construction grant applications and continue interconnection steps with the utility (Eversource) and the NRES program; any contract or funding decisions beyond these resolutions will return to the board.
