Eastham committee removes microgrid study from $150,000 DOER technical-assistance application

Town staff said the Department of Energy Resources raised concerns about including a microgrid study in the town’s $150,000 Climate Leader technical-assistance application, calling it premature without a completed energy-profile analysis for municipal buildings.

Shana Brogan, speaking for town staff, said the microgrid component will be removed from the current application. "We are taking that part of the grant out," she said, and the application will be revised to fund a scope of work to review alternatives for electrifying the town hall HVAC system. Brogan added the town can pursue other grant opportunities later to study microgrid options once building-level energy profiles and electrification designs are established.

Committee members supported the narrower approach but urged that the project remain "future ready" — that early design work not preclude later microgrid integration. Several members recommended layering additional grant sources to avoid waiting for another grant cycle.

The revision is intended to keep the Climate Leader application competitive while allowing more detailed microgrid analysis only after design-level energy data are available for town hall, police and fire facilities.