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Connecticut Green Bank previews Solar Map Plus for Deep River; town urged to finalize projects by July
Summary
Sustainable Deep River and the Connecticut Green Bank outlined Solar Map Plus, a program to identify municipal solar sites, provide feasibility studies and financing, and reserve 25 megawatts for school projects; presenters warned projects must be finalized by July to secure federal investment tax credits.
Sustainable Deep River introduced a townwide solar initiative on May 26, and Emily Bashum, director of financing at the Connecticut Green Bank, outlined the Green Bank's Solar Map Plus Program to the Deep River Board of Selectmen.
Bashum described the program as a package that identifies suitable municipal properties for solar development, conducts site assessments and feasibility studies, bundles participating properties into a competitive portfolio and provides upfront financing and project oversight through completion. Sarah Connor, chair of Sustainable Deep River, said the initiative could bring financing assistance, scholarships and education to local residents.
The presenters highlighted options for project ownership. Under one model, the town would own a system but purchase power from it with the Green Bank providing financing and maintenance oversight. Under another model, the Green Bank would own and install systems; energy produced would offset municipal electricity costs and excess power would be returned to the grid for credits, the presentation said.
School projects were a prominent component: presenters said 25 megawatts of annual capacity are reserved for school projects, with the potential for enhanced incentive rates and additional funding for qualifying projects. Bashum also advised that projects would need to be finalized by July to secure available federal investment tax credits, a timing constraint the Board will need to consider during next steps.
The presentation included local program updates from Sustainable Deep River: the Livery Garden installation is complete, the group is seeking artwork through a $1,500 opportunity, a townwide streetlight survey is underway, and a community energy savings campaign continues.
The Board did not take formal action on the Solar Map Plus presentation at the meeting; presenters said the Green Bank will provide a case study illustrating program benefits in a future follow-up.
