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Warner Select Board votes to send letter supporting net‑metering bill SB538
Summary
The Warner Select Board voted 2–1 to send a letter of support for Senate Bill 538, a net‑metering bill Energy Committee members said would grandfather municipal projects' metering terms and ease financing for new solar projects.
Chairman Harry Seidel and Vice Chair Alfred Hanson voted to send a letter of support for Senate Bill 538FN after members of the Warner Energy Committee described the legislation as a way to protect municipal net‑metering arrangements for the next two decades.
The Energy Committee’s Clyde Carson told the Select Board the town already has solar arrays at the transfer station and the water precinct treatment plant and that, under current contracts, net‑metering is in effect through 2040. “This legislation grandfathers the net metering for the next 20 years,” Carson said, and he asked the board to send a letter of support. Neil Nevins emphasized the long‑term cost control benefits for the town and taxpayers.
Chairman Harry Seidel moved, seconded by Alfred Hanson, to send the letter. The board recorded a roll‑call vote: Hanson YES, Seidel YES, Mike Smith NO; the motion passed.
Why it matters: supporters said SB538 would preserve predictable accounting for municipal solar projects and help new projects secure financing. Carson told the board more than 80 municipalities had already signed on in support. The Select Board did not debate the bill’s merits in detail beyond the Energy Committee presentation.
Next steps: the Select Board’s office will send the letter of support as approved and the Energy Committee will continue outreach to other communities.
