Energy Board Clarifies Solar Power in Marion

The Marion Energy Management Committee settled around the table in the front room of the Marion Music Hall on the night of April 25 to discuss a new solar energy farm proposal in Marion.

Present was Mark Croke, a representative from Clean Energy Collective, who is proposing a solar energy partnership with the Town of Marion. He had come to answer the board’s questions about a proposed solar energy farm in Marion.

“Does this require any major investors?” EMC member Bill Saltonstall asked.

“Well, it requires an anchor tenant or two,” Croke explained. “Schools, universities, hospitals – institutions which aren’t going anywhere. Half of the community solar farm is fractured for the anchor tenants; the other half is split into smaller slices for residential and municipal use.”

Croke then went on to explain the way a community solar farm would work. “We build farms, they produce energy which is released into the grid, and the energy produces dollars. What happens is that at the end of the month, anchors pay only $.85 on every dollar that their energy produces, and residents pay $.90 of every dollar produced. In addition, for every new resident who joins, the town receives a one-time check for $300. It’s a money saver for everyone,” Croke said. “I know my bill would be cheaper if my town had solar energy. My electric bill is about $320 a month … I’ve got to get my kids out of the shower,” he joked.

“Flush the toilet,” Chairman David Pierce suggested cheerfully.

“Does the person who signs up for their home pay any money?” asked committee member Jennifer Francis. When told that no, they don’t, she questioned, “So what might stop a person from signing up?”

“Well, you sign a 23-page contract, and the contract is good for 20 years. Really, the contract and the 20-year term are what stall people,” Croke said. “But you can leave the contract without penalty; you just need to give six months notice. I mean, if you can’t give six months notice,” he said, “you will have to forfeit the penalty, but you can get out.”

“Will the solar farm need to be in Marion if we say yes?” Pierce asked.

“Well there’s one planned in Tucker Hill, but it’s not necessary,” Croke explained. “Arrays could be located in other nearby towns.”

“So we’d be your first town in the area,” Francis mused. “If we were to become your first town, would you increase payments to the town per account? It’s risky, and we have a generous program, so why should we move? I think we should be rewarded for taking the risk.”

“Would you give up earning $100 per account – moving from $300 per account to the town to $200 per account – to make a 15 percent savings per resident instead of a 10 percent savings?” Croke asked.

Francis agreed that this was a much better alternative.

“Well, I can’t promise it,” Croke admitted, “but it’s definitely something I will talk with Clean Energy about.”

The conversation then shifted to the Future Generation Wind Project located in Plymouth. Marion was the first town to buy shares in the wind power farm.

Saltonstall had good news on the potential savings from the wind power. “The project will start operation in May,” he said, “and they’d like to have full power by June. The savings are expected to be 24.5 percent in the first few months, and rising to 30 percent if prices go up. That’s a full year savings of around $130,000. Of course, we won’t have that this year,” he acknowledged, “because we won’t have a full year, but think about the next few years and how much money that will be.”

Francis then gave an update on Marion’s new electric car, now operated by the Marion Recreation Department. “I’m happy to say that the Leaf cost Marion exactly $0,” she said proudly. “The town will be applying for two more Leafs when everything is all set.”

She added, amused, “I read that story about the Crown Vic’s (the former car of the Recreation Department) gas tank falling out the moment that the Leaf arrived. I thought that was hilarious.”

Pierce looked at committee member Eileen Marum with a raised eyebrow. “Eileen, did you have anything to do with that?” he joked. She laughed and waved it off, saying, “Nope, not me, sorry.”

As the meeting wound down, Pierce addressed the board as term expirations neared. “I hope everyone will want to continue. We have a brilliant team,” he said as he looked around the table.

“And the funnest team!” Francis chirped behind him.

“And we don’t get mad at each other, that’s rare,” Pierce added, as Norm Hills nodded on the other side of the table.

The next meeting of the Marion Energy Management Committee will take place on May 23 at 7:00 pm in the Marion Music Hall.

By Andrea Ray

 

One Response to “Energy Board Clarifies Solar Power in Marion”

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  1. Paul Croke says:

    Nice pitch, Mark;
    PVC

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