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Salisbury Energy Committee to study town energy use, explores solar arrays and schedules audit
Summary
The Salisbury Energy Committee reviewed municipal energy and heating-fuel usage, agreed to seek clarification from utilities and solar vendors about three-phase power and mounting constraints, and scheduled an energy-audit review and a Clean Energy NH briefing for June 10, 2026.
Matt Tilley, Chair of the Salisbury Energy Committee, opened the meeting on May 13 and the committee reviewed town energy and heating-fuel usage presented by Recording Secretary Samantha Wasil.
Committee members agreed to take a closer look at how the town consumes energy and at options to reduce usage. Vice Chair Lorna Carlisle said she would like clarification from the utility or a solar installer on whether a large solar array would require nearby three-phase power. Committee member Kevin O'Neill asked how large an array would need to be to produce about 10,000 kW per month; Selectman Ex-Officio David Hostetler said such an array “would have to be significantly large.”
The group also discussed that net-metering arrangements do not always eliminate customer service charges. Joe Schmidl noted remaining service charges under current net metering regimes and urged the committee to include that factor when estimating the town’s potential savings from rooftop or ground-mounted solar arrays. Bob Irving said the usage data indicate room for improvement in town buildings and the committee discussed pursuing an energy audit; members agreed to revisit the usage figures at the June 10 meeting after additional review.
On project outreach, Schmidl said he had not yet spoken with Unitil but planned to do so in the coming days; he added that the Northern Border Compact said it could not assist with the new highway building because its grants are reserved for economic development. Carlisle reported that Sarah Brock of Clean Energy NH will attend the June 10 meeting to answer questions about solar siting and incentives, and members clarified that NH Saves municipal programs are run through the local utility (Unitil for Salisbury).
The committee set its next meeting for Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 p.m. upstairs in Academy Hall to review energy-usage data, hear from Clean Energy NH, and discuss the prospect of an energy audit. Procedural motions at the May 13 meeting included approval of the April 30, 2026 draft minutes and a motion to adjourn, both of which passed.
