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Milton wins DOER grant for battery study and eyes low‑cost solar deals at May town meeting
Summary
The Climate Action Planning Committee said DOER awarded Milton a feasibility grant to study battery storage at Town Hall and Fire Headquarters and previewed two May 5 town meeting articles: a net‑metering authorization (negotiations with Rewild for ~17.5% credit) and a 20‑year solar PPA with Solect at $0.05/kWh.
The Town of Milton's Climate Action Planning Committee on March 19 learned that the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources selected the town for a grant under the Advancing Massachusetts Power program to fund a battery storage feasibility study at Town Hall and Fire Headquarters.
Municipal Energy Manager Kai Mueller said the feasibility work will run from March through June 2026 and is the first step in a two‑step program: the study is funded now, and an implementation grant application—due in August 2026—could cover up to 75% of battery costs if the town proceeds. Mueller said the study will assess whether one combined system or separate systems at the two sites is optimal, estimate potential revenue from utility load‑management programs, and evaluate compatibility with a planned solar power purchase agreement at Fire Headquarters.
Mueller also briefed the committee on two proposed articles for the May 5 annual town meeting. The first would authorize the Select Board to enter into agreements to purchase electricity and/or solar net‑metering credits from renewable facilities; Mueller said the town is negotiating with Rewild for a net‑metering credit agreement that would provide about a 17.5% discount on municipal electricity and would cover roughly 80% of municipal consumption to limit the town's exposure to excess credits.
The second proposed article would authorize leases of town property to a third‑party solar developer and a 20‑year power purchase agreement with Solect to install panels at the animal shelter, Fire Headquarters, and the public library. Under the draft PPA, Solect would sell electricity to the town at $0.05 per kilowatt‑hour, compared with the town's current municipal rate of about $0.28 per kilowatt‑hour.
Mueller cautioned that while municipal ownership of solar assets can yield greater long‑term returns, smaller municipalities often lack the staff capacity to manage operations and maintenance; he cited an example of a $110,000 broken inverter at Collicott‑Cunningham that went unrepaired for one to two years as an illustration of the administrative burden and risk.
The committee received the presentations for information; no committee vote was requested on either town meeting article. The battery feasibility study will conclude before the August implementation grant deadline, Mueller said, leaving the town time to assess options before committing to construction funding.
What happens next: the battery study is due in June 2026 and the town may apply for implementation funding in August 2026 if the feasibility results support proceeding. The solar articles are scheduled for informational presentation at the May 5 town meeting.
