Sudbury advances solar canopy plans; Fire Station 2 needs redesign, Fairbank installation on hold

Combined Facilities Director Sandra Duran told the Town of Sudbury Energy and Sustainability Committee on Jan. 13 that Solect is preparing renderings for proposed solar canopies at Haskell, Curtis and the Fire/Police Station, and that renderings will be used to socialize projects with local stakeholders including CIAC and Parks and Recreation.

Duran said a structural analysis found Fire Station 2 cannot support the currently proposed solar system and will need redesign while Fire Station 3 can support its proposed design. She said the Fire/Police Station project will require Historic District Commission approval. Duran also reported the Fairbank solar installation is on hold pending repair of a roof leak; she had no estimate for when the leak will be resolved.

Duran said the original DPW Power Purchase Agreement did not include water-management elements and she has asked Solect to add water management to the current designs, a change that could affect the projects’ financials. She noted the DPW system is working, but that Solect and Eversource are resolving an issue with receiving reports about generated credits; those credits are applied across town buildings under the PPA.

Committee members discussed geotechnical evaluations: John Keklak confirmed the geotech for Haskell will be performed by Solect after the town signs the lease, and that decisions on leases will be made via Town Meeting articles. Members requested renderings to address concerns from bus drivers about turning radii. Olga Faktorovich Allen and Sandra Duran agreed to meet to discuss expanding HVAC and system scopes, and Eric Simms was tasked with creating initial messaging collateral to support outreach.

Next steps include producing renderings for stakeholder review, redesign work for Fire Station 2 if pursued, resolving Fairbank roof issues before moving forward, and Town Meeting consideration of leases for the three projects.