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Board approves National Grid lighting and motor-control upgrade with utility incentives
Summary
Trustees approved a National Grid-sponsored project to replace campus lighting with LED fixtures and add variable frequency drives; National Grid will provide incentives covering up to half the project cost and staff described an on-bill repayment option to keep initial cash flow positive.
The Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School board voted to approve a National Grid grant and upgrade program to replace high-wattage lighting with LED fixtures and install variable frequency drives (VFDs) to reduce peak demand and energy costs.
Tom, a National Grid representative, described a program that brings a project expediter (general contractor) to spec and install lighting and motor controls and provides incentive payments that cover a substantial portion of the cost. "We will pay up to 50% of that in incentive payments," Tom said, describing the utility's grant contribution.
Ben Wild, the city's director of climate action and project administration, told trustees the remaining cost could be financed through a 0% on-bill repayment structured over a period longer than the estimated energy payback so the school's first bills would be cash-flow positive. Wild also emphasized savings from reduced demand charges through VFDs, saying the combination of measures could outperform conservative utility estimates.
The trustees discussed which campus buildings are included (buildings A, B and C), noted that some recently purchased flat-panel fixtures would be excluded because they were acquired for instructional use, and asked staff to coordinate work during after-school hours to minimize classroom disruption. The board moved, seconded and voted 'all in favor' to authorize the project to proceed pending the required signature to activate the project expediter.
Staff said next steps include signature authorization to schedule the expeditor, order equipment, and coordinate installation dates; work will be coordinated with school schedules and may include student involvement for already-acquired fixtures where appropriate.
The board did not record a roll-call vote tally in the transcript; staff and trustees framed the approval as a routine authorization to take advantage of available incentives before they are phased out.
