Cohasset AEC subcommittee moves to issue RFP for solar arrays at Osgood and Deerhill schools

Tanya Bodell, an AEC Subcommittee member, told fellow subcommittee members Thursday that the group will seek competitive proposals to install solar energy arrays on school properties at Deerhill and Osgood, including rooftop and carport options. The subcommittee recorded a target timeline to issue an RFP by March 1, solicit responses through April, produce recommendations by early May and sign a contract in June to permit installation this summer.

The work stems from a directive approved at Town Meeting in fall 2025 and from schools’ interest in lowering energy bills and reducing exposure to volatile electricity prices, Bodell said. Julia Gillis, assistant town planner and liaison to the Alternative Energy Committee, presented materials from Lisa McGonigle, who is handling the Town’s procurement efforts, and displayed procurement documents for the committee to review.

Committee members discussed practical next steps for the procurement. Chris Oddleifson asked for National Grid billing and consumption data; the subcommittee advised requesting monthly, meter-level data for all town meters to underpin the RFP and vendor proposals. Bodell asked McGonigle to prepare a first draft of the RFP and asked Doran Hole to compile a list of solar companies operating in Massachusetts. Gillis said she will share sample legal documentation with Town Counsel and will draft the meeting minutes and post the next agenda.

The group agreed that the evaluation committee will likely include two AEC members, a school committee member, an advisory committee member and a selectboard member. To maintain momentum, the subcommittee tentatively set weekly meetings on Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. to advance drafting and data collection.

No formal vote was recorded at the meeting; the group documented assignments and a schedule to move the procurement forward. The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.