Before going solar at middle school, School Committee wants answers

School officials are facing their next hurdle in getting solar panels installed on the Ellen Garrison Building at Acton Middle School.

First, the School Committee has some homework to do.

The committee is reviewing a proposed 20-year agreement with Solect Energy Development LLC that would allow the company to install, own, and operate solar panels on the building. Members reviewed the contract at their September 23 meeting.

“I unequivocally support putting solar on top of the Ellen Garrison building,” Acton School Committee Chair Sandeep Pisharody said at the meeting. “It is consistent with what the community values. It is consistent with the school sustainability commitments that we’ve made.”

In May, after the district failed to receive a $1.4 million state grant, the Acton Municipal Light Plant, a partner on the project, said it was instead pursuing a power-purchasing agreement with a private solar developer.

Under that model, the developer would finance, build, and own the system, and CMLP would buy the electricity it produces. The arrangement would enable the district to avoid upfront costs.

The 20-year proposed license with Solect would give the company access to the school property for construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual removal of the solar panels if the contract is not extended. 

“I don’t want to run into a 20-year decision in haste,” Pisharody said. “I mean, it’s a long time.”

Committee members and district officials had many questions about the contract. Pisharody said he had 18 after his first readthrough, and School Committee member Drew Magliozzi said he tried to boil his “down to three.” 

Questions included the responsibility for repairs and maintenance, Solect’s access to the roof, potential costs to the district, and what would happen if the solar company stopped operating.

Warranty concerns

After queries from committee member Tracey Marano and METCO representative Michelle MacDougall about the building’s roof warranty, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Robert Conry said it’s a priority. 

“We need to be guaranteed that our warranty is going to be held,” he said. “We don’t care how that happens.”

The proposed agreement requires the district to avoid modifications that would interfere with sunlight reaching the panels. Solect would have access to the property for its work, while the district’s access to the solar equipment itself would be restricted.

The committee plans to compile its questions and have district officials and legal counsel work with CMLP and Solect on the agreement.

Schools Superintendent Laurie Hunter said she will bring updates back to the committee until the issues are resolved and the agreement is ready for a vote.

Pisharody said the committee’s questions were aimed at ensuring the district is protected before it commits to the agreement, not at preventing solar altogether.

“I do feel like the sense is we want to get this done,” Pisharody said, “but we want to get this done in a way that protects the learners, protects the educators, protects the town.”