Town seeks $1.4M state grant to help fund CMS solar panels
Officials say it’s an effort to reduce costs even though Town Meeting voters already approved borrowing for the project.
Acton officials are pursuing a state grant to help fund solar panels for the Ellen Garrison Building at Acton Middle School, one year after the school opened its doors.
However, Town Meeting voters already approved borrowing for the project.
The school district and Acton Municipal Light Plant have applied for a $1.4 million Green School Works grant through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. CMLP Director Jason Bulger said it’s an effort to reduce costs.
“That money approved at Town Meeting is going to require borrowing authorization and require ratepayers to pay back this $1.4 million,” Bulger said in an interview. “The grant would pay for that and not require ratepayers to pay back the money. Most people would prefer to get solar paid for by the state as opposed to pay for it themselves.”
‘Significant investment’
The solar project was previously approved in 2023 by Town Meeting voters, who authorized up to $7.5 million in borrowing to fund rooftop solar, parking canopy panels, and potential energy storage at the site.
Last November, Light Board members accused school leaders of squandering time and money by delaying the project and failing to execute a site license.
At a February 25 School Committee meeting, Bulger reaffirmed that the project is not truly “paused” after Regional School Committee Chair Tracey Marano asked about its status. He said the project has instead shifted from an active bidding process to exploring alternative funding models following the cancellation of previous bids.
“That project has already required significant investment,” Bulger also said at the meeting, noting that the town and CMLP have spent more than $300,000 on design work, legal counsel, staffing, and preparation.
Marano also asked about current costs to see whether the project is expected to be more expensive now than when it was approved in 2023.
Bulger said that although “the tariffs, the third-party costs, and the wages” are increasing at a pretty steady rate, he doesn’t see the project exceeding the allotted $7.5 million.
He added that the project’s funding continues to evolve as officials evaluate procurement options. Those options include CMLP directly completing the project using town-authorized borrowing, contracting with third-party solar developers through a purchase agreement, or exploring solar lease arrangements.
If the grant is not awarded, Bulger said, they will evaluate other options and rebid the project. He said they are working to maintain flexibility while minimizing disruption to school operations.
“We don’t want to wait a couple of months and then, if we don’t get the grant, ask what we’re going to do next,” Bulger said.
He said construction on the solar panels could begin as early as this summer, depending on financing, procurement, and permitting timelines.
