Representatives from Encore Redevelopment presented their proposal at a
May 10 meeting of the select board. The board, at a May 17 meeting,
heard comment from members of the public, the town's energy committee
chair and the town's budget committee chair regarding the ER proposal as
well as a proposal from All Earth Renewables (AER).
CONSENSUS
It became clear as the meeting progressed that there was consensus among
select board members, town committees and many of the members of the
public that the town should take advantage of the opportunity to make,
purchase and use renewable energy.
Last week when the ER representatives explained their proposal to the
town, they said they needed a "go or no go" from the town by early June
so they could do a feasibility study on whatever site the town chooses
for the project. The ER reps said the Vermont Public Service Board would
not accept applications for 150kW projects after July 15; hence, the
hurry to identify and study possible sites.
This week, Robin Morris, chair of the town's budget task force,
suggested that the town actively pursue bids for the project, noting
that there seemed to be some latitude in the terms of the deal that
could be struck with either ER or AER.
TAX CREDITS
Both the ER and AER projects take advantage of state and federal tax
credits that expire at the end of 2010.
"There are two deals on the table that are good for the town. The
question is, does the town have the resources to take advantage of this
offer. Do we have the land?" Morris asked.
Select board member Paul Hartshorn said he had discussed the town's
earlier idea to install the solar array of 750 photovoltaic panels at
the town garage with town Road Foreman Stuart Grandfield.
"Stuart says having to move the sand pile won't work," Hartshorn said.
VIABLE SITE
"An RFP makes sense, but if we don't have a viable site we can't move
forward," said select board member Charlie Hosford.
The ER project requires 1.5 acres of land. The AER proposal was also for
150kW but involved solar trackers, which are 25 to 40 percent more
efficient but require more land.
Sites that the board discussed for the project include the town gravel
pit on the west side of Route 100 behind Amerigas, the town garage at
the top of Tremblay Road, the Munn septic disposal site on Route 100,
and somewhere near the Waitsfield Elementary School.
The board, after more public comment, asked Morris to work with energy
coordinator Dennis Derryberry, Conservation Commission chair Leo
Laferriere and Town Administrator Valerie Capels on issuing an RFP as
early as next week. Prior to that, Derryberry will contact both
companies and ask for a brief review of the available properties to help
the town narrow down the sites.
If permitted and constructed, both companies would run the solar
installations for at least five years, selling the power to the town at a
discounted rate through a power purchase agreement (PPA). At the end of
the PPA, the town could renew or purchase the installation from the
developer.
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