Selectboard discusses generators, Powerwalls and shelter readiness amid limited funding options

Board members and staff discussed the town's limited shelter power and the difficulty of acquiring grants for commercial generators. S9 described costly generator quotes and proposed joint approaches with the school to share costs and shelter responsibilities; S8 proposed alternative routes such as Tesla Powerwall leases and wiring external plug-ins so volunteer generators could be connected quickly.

S8 said a 10-year lease on a battery-backed system could be an option for the radio station and might offer a lower-cost approach for powering critical functions in an emergency. Members asked the emergency manager to explore grant options for generators at polling stations and to report back at the next continuity-planning meeting. The board did not authorize purchases at the meeting; it directed staff to pursue grant conversations and to measure the power draw for potential shelters to support an accurate cost estimate.