Subcommittee to explore transferring school solar-panel PPA to Town of Ashby

The North Middlesex Regional School District finance subcommittee agreed March 5 to initiate discussions to transfer a solar power purchase agreement (PPA) tied to an Ashby-owned building to the Town of Ashby, rather than removing or relocating the panels.

Administration said the panels are "behind the meter," reducing the building's electricity costs, and that an easement with Ashby already exists dating to the original PPA. "The way it's structured...the panels are behind the meter, so they basically reduce the cost of electricity on the building," an administrator said when describing how benefits would transfer to Ashby.

The district noted the PPA and ownership sit with an external vendor and that the engineering/vendor partner (identified in the contract materials as Select Energy Development) would need to accept any transfer. The original contract was dated October 24, 2017, per the materials the administration reviewed during the meeting.

Committee members said transferring the agreement to Ashby would be the simplest option if the town is willing, and that moving panels to another site would likely be expensive and unwieldy because of the panels' age and lack of a ready roof or ground-mount site. "It would definitely cost something if the district decided to move the panels, maybe significant amount," administration said, and added that transfer conversations would include legal review and coordination with the PPA holder.

No formal subcommittee vote was required at this stage; the administration will contact Ashby, share production and rate data so the town can make an informed decision, and return to the committee with options. Any contract amendment or formal transfer would require subsequent approval by the full school committee.