Barnstable County delegates debate $5,000 pilot loan program to help homeowners add backup power

Barnstable County's Standing Committee on Telecommunications and Energy spent its May 18 virtual meeting weighing Ordinance 2026-14, a proposal to create a revolving Power Outage Resiliency Fund that would offer small loans to year‑round residents to retrofit homes for generator or battery backup.

Delegate Gessen, the sponsor, told the committee the ordinance mirrors the county's Aqua Fund model and would let the county seed a fund, charge a modest interest rate and recycle repayments to expand access. "This creates a revolving loan fund" he said, explaining loans would be capped at $5,000, repayable in up to 10 years, with a maximum interest set at 1 percentage point above the prime rate at issuance. He said the draft also allows the county administrator to set eligibility and income‑based prioritization criteria.

Gessen tied the proposal to recent outages during Tropical Storm Hernando. He said the county and towns spent "several million dollars" operating warming shelters and that a pilot—proposed at $65,000—could test uptake without commissioning a large study. "If nobody uses it, great—we put it back in the general fund next year," he said, adding that informal assistance had already helped about a dozen families prepare for future storms.

Opponents and skeptics questioned whether a $5,000 maximum would "move the needle" for many households. Chair Killian pressed for evidence that the modest subsidy would lead homeowners to install functioning backup systems, noting a typical full‑house installation can cost $10,000–$15,000 and raising concerns about ongoing maintenance and program administration. "Is this something the county should be involved in?" Killian asked, citing opportunity costs and the county's limited funds.

Delegate Gallagher, who volunteered at local warming shelters, recommended a higher cap. "The maximum loan amount in this program should be more on the order of 15 or $20,000," Gallagher said, arguing a larger award could more often produce a working system. Delegate Harder made an emotional appeal on behalf of elderly residents who rely on electricity for medical devices: "It is absolutely terrifying for these people," Harder said, urging the committee to try a pilot rather than wait.

Delegate Green acknowledged severe outages in her town but called $65,000 "pittance" relative to systemic infrastructure needs and questioned whether the ordinance addresses core vulnerabilities. Other co‑sponsors urged robust outreach so eligible households know the pilot exists and said partial systems or targeted assistance could still provide life‑saving benefits.

The draft ordinance also includes enforcement tools: the committee heard that, like the Aqua Fund, loans could become liens on property when unpaid and that the draft caps overdue penalties at 10 percent. The ordinance refers to the county administrator as the fund administrator and limits applicants to natural persons who are year‑round Barnstable County residents.

No final committee vote on the ordinance was recorded at the meeting. Delegate Gessen urged the committee to recommend the measure to the full assembly for further consideration; Chair Killian said the committee will invite Eversource and other utilities for a future, more detailed conversation about grid resiliency.

The committee adjourned after scheduling follow‑up sessions on broadband and utility engagement.