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Council approves ACES Up MOU to advance no‑cost solar projects for town buildings
Summary
Stratford’s council voted to adopt a memorandum of understanding with ACES Up that authorizes stage‑one solar and renewable energy services across town facilities with no upfront cost to the municipality, aiming to secure incentives before a July 4 deadline.
The Stratford Town Council voted on June 8 to authorize a memorandum of understanding with ACES Up, a regional public purchasing consortium, to pursue stage‑one solar projects at multiple town and school sites with no initial cost to Stratford.
Brendan Shy, who presented for ACES Up, told the council the program allows municipalities to use an existing statutory purchasing vehicle to contract renewable‑energy services without running separate RFPs. "By statute it enables towns and school boards to initiate these services without the labor and intensity of going through an entire RFP process," Shy said.
Shy said the program has identified roughly 18 early projects and that timing is important to secure federal and state incentives. He told the council that some incentive programs will require local approvals and that the window to "safe‑harbor" certain incentives would close on July 4 unless projects are set in motion.
The council moved the ACES Up item up on the agenda to allow a timely vote. William Boyd moved adoption of resolution 7.2.7 authorizing a memorandum of understanding between ACES Up and the Town of Stratford to proceed with a stage‑one solar option; Lisa Carol Fabian seconded. The resolution was adopted by voice vote.
What the vote does: The approved resolution authorizes town officials to execute the MOU and proceed with stage‑one projects identified by ACES Up. ACES Up representatives said projects will be structured to deliver financial benefits to the town via on‑bill credits and no out‑of‑pocket cost for equipment or maintenance during the contract term.
Next steps: Town staff and ACES Up will proceed with the agreements necessary to safe‑harbor projects and begin installations per program timelines. Some school‑based work was described as likely to be completed before year‑end; commercial projects may follow pending incentive availability.
Sources and attributions: Presentation and comments by Brendan Shy and council motion and vote during the June 8 meeting. Portions paraphrase the ACES Up presentation; direct quotes are attributed to Brendan Shy.
Ending: The council approved the MOU and the town will now work with ACES Up to secure incentive timing and contract details; staff will report back as projects progress.
