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Cohasset committee forms school solar subcommittee, flags federal tax‑credit deadline and landfill output estimates
Summary
The Alternative Energy Committee formed a procurement subcommittee for a proposed Deer Hill School solar array, set a meeting with school staff, and reviewed a landfill solar upgrade expected to produce about 600,000 kWh/year; members noted an urgent federal tax‑credit deadline and assigned contract and site‑selection follow-ups.
The Town of Cohasset Alternative Energy Committee on Jan. 8 appointed a subcommittee to advance a proposed solar array at Deer Hill School and asked staff to meet with school representatives to identify acceptable installation locations.
Julia Gillis, town staff, said she will "set up a meeting with Lisa" McGonigle and circulate documents from the 2020 procurement so subcommittee members can review proposals and history before proceeding. Committee members noted the Osgood School roof likely is not optimal for rooftop solar because of shade, HVAC equipment and structural limits, and agreed to ask the superintendent and the School Committee to identify other possible sites.
The committee also reviewed progress on the landfill solar project. Members were told Palmer Capital is installing new equipment and that the town should expect roughly 600,000 kilowatt‑hours per year, an annual benefit the minutes estimate at about $96,000 under current net‑metering rates. The minutes note the project contract includes guaranteed output levels that are lower than the production the town now anticipates and asked staff to review the agreement.
Members emphasized timing: the minutes record that projects must be "safe‑harbored" before July 4, 2026 to preserve one tax‑credit pathway, or begin construction before 2027 for another, creating an urgent window for decisions and procurement activity.
Action items from the meeting include Julia Gillis setting up the subcommittee meeting with Lisa McGonigle and circulating 2020 procurement documents, and Chris Oddleifson obtaining town energy‑usage data (with a focus on school usage) to inform site selection and financing analysis. The committee did not take any formal votes on a specific solar contract at the meeting.
