The contracts have been signed and Marion is committed to go forward on deals that, if the costs work out with Eversource, would result in a potentially profitable solar array atop the Benson Brook landfill. But the Marion Energy Management Committee intends on second-guessing the plan when the Board of Selectmen meet on Thursday, April 30.
“This was originally sold to us as benefitting the town with solar… I feel like it’s leaving this part of the project’s design behind… I’d like to hear why this wasn’t discussed. Why haven’t we kept that in the track?” asked Committee member Jennifer Francis during the committee’s April 27, remote access meeting.
Liz Argo, participating in the meeting on behalf of Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC), qualified her remarks by recognizing it as an “internal town discussion,” but said the original plan was more expensive in terms of management and the lack of financial incentives. “It was looked at. I can go out on a limb as an outsider and say it was a financial decision,” said Argo.
Marion joined CVEC last year for the purposes of expert facilitation of such a venture.
Francis pointed out that, under the original concept, residents were going to be able to buy shares in solar power over a 10-year period and pay a reduced rate. “The town wasn’t going to benefit as much as our budget for the town, but residents were going to benefit more. That’s the story that we told at (2019) Town Meeting, and that’s what we got approved,” she said. “I understand now the payment to the town is not peanuts so it could be it’s better to have this money going into the town coffers than going to the residents.”
Last week the Board of Selectmen authorized Town Administrator Jay McGrail to sign contracts with CVEC to manage the arrangement and with developer Distributed Solar Development.
DSD was judged the best of three bids to build on the Benson Brooks landfill site because the company offered a straight lease, which suited Marion’s financial portfolio. The nature of the contract directs the funds to go into town coffers rather than straight to residents. The new arrangement results in approximately $125,000 per year for Marion for the 20-year life of the contract.
“I think from (Mr. McGrail)’s perspective, he was looking at the best deals and how much Marion would make… I know we did compare both options at one point, and the revenues on community solar was really, really low,” said Town Planner Gil Hilario.
The greater difference as it affects the lease now appears to be related to the timeline, as in the sooner Marion enters into agreement the better the potential financial windfall. This is due to what Argo called the “first-come, first-served” nature of market.
According to Argo, back in December the project was in Block 3; now it’s in Block 5. Due to the effect of the passage of time and the race to grab state-sponsored incentives, the 20-year lease agreed upon is down from $149,000 to $125,000.
Adding to the complexity is the next stage in which a study will reveal the cost of interconnect with Eversource. If Marion finds that price too high, it can back out of the whole deal.
Committee Member Christian Ingerslev noted that towns are starting to put solar panels on reservoirs.
Argo discouraged the idea for Marion. “Environmentalists are concerned because now you’re cutting off the sunlight,” she said. “It wouldn’t help Marion because you’re not being challenged to develop solar (energy); you’re challenged (as to how) to use it.”
Argo reminded the committee that all conversations need to happen sooner rather than later, as any delays erode the financial incentives.
Originally conceived for the purpose of bringing wind power turbines to the town to save money on electricity, Marion’s Energy Management Committee now deals with multiple, alternative-energy sources in both the private and public sectors. In this case, the committee is advocating for the citizens and would like to hear from McGrail himself on the matter.
Committee Chairman David Pierce thinks it would be best to “put our 10 cents into the discussion. I think it would be helpful. This is not a done deal even though the contract has been signed,” he said.
After Hilario gave a Green Communities Update (see Marion Board of Selectmen story), Committee member Bill Saltonstall updated the group on the Mass Energy Insight program, noting that while LED lights had been installed and were working on South Street and Ryder Lane, Eversource was still charging Marion for high-pressure sodium lamps.
The goal in the program has been to save 25 percent in a five-year period, but there is only a two percent savings so far. “I’m trying to chase them… (it’s) still a work in progress,” said Saltonstall.
The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee is scheduled for June 8.
Marion Energy Management Committee
By Mick Colageo