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Alternative‑energy committee recommends measured engagement after single bid for Deer Hill, Osgood solar RFP
Summary
The town’s Alternative Energy Committee reported one bid for solar arrays at Deer Hill and Osgood schools and recommended a cautious, non‑binding engagement with the local bidder while staff further refines design, grid interconnection and roof‑replacement timing.
The Cohasset School Committee on June 24 heard a detailed briefing from Doran Hull of the Alternative Energy Committee on a recent request for proposals to install solar arrays at Deer Hill and Osgood schools.
Hull said the RFP produced a single responsive bid, from a local firm that already owns the landfill array. He said the bidder’s preliminary economics suggested “approximately a 25% savings off of the town's bill,” and that similar projects at the landfill have produced “cumulative savings” in excess of $500,000. The bidder, Hull added, had not pursued industry safe‑harbor strategies tied to investment tax credits, so the committee is no longer constrained by a July 4 safe‑harbor deadline.
Committee members pressed on two technical uncertainties: whether roof area and racking assumptions used for the desktop bid are accurate and whether congestion at the Norwell substation will limit the size or timing of systems that can export to the grid. Hull said National Grid is working on substation upgrades but that those constraints “cause uncertainty with respect to the timing and the size of an array” and can reduce expected economic benefits.
Given the uncertainties, the Alternative Energy Committee recommended that the school committee engage—non‑bindingly—with the local bidder (identified in the packet as Palmer/Palmer Capital) to refine measurements, confirm interconnection constraints with National Grid and explore battery‑hybrid options. Hull said the evaluation committee will continue technical follow‑up and community engagement rather than rushing a letter of intent tied to an expiring federal program.
The school committee took the update under advisement and asked the Alternative Energy Committee to provide documentation and follow up when more technical detail is available.
Next steps outlined by staff include refined site measurements, a solar‑ready roof schedule aligned with planned roof replacement at Deer Hill, a conversation with National Grid about substation capacity, and community outreach before any binding commitment.
