Light Board backs policy to require rooftop solar on new public buildings

The Concord Municipal Light Board voted April 8 to recommend affirmative action at Town Meeting on a warrant policy that would require rooftop solar to be integrated into the design of new public buildings when a minimum of about 7.5 kilowatts of capacity is feasible.

Dean Banfield, the article’s sponsor, told the board he reworked an earlier bylaw proposal into a policy to simplify implementation and keep control with the Select Board and building committees. Banfield said the policy is intended to lock in the long‑term fixed‑cost benefits of on‑site generation, reduce stress on the transmission system and align new construction with the town’s climate goals. “The primary reason here is that you’re going to have a a long‑term fixed cost for the electricity for a portion of the electricity that building uses,” Banfield said.

The policy sets a lower threshold of roughly 7.5 kW (about two rows of eight standard panels, per the sponsor’s estimate) and includes an appeal path to the Select Board for projects that can demonstrate a valid reason to be exempted. Banfield and staff emphasized the policy does not prescribe a single financing model: the town could own systems, bundle them into project bonds, or use lease/leaseback arrangements. Jason, CMLP staff, clarified that under current state law and local practice the municipal light plant will control interconnection terms: “Nobody in Concord can enter into a PPA other than CMLP because of how the laws are written,” he said, but noted lease or leaseback approaches and CMLP‑held PPAs for town sites are options.

Board members pressed on details that could affect implementation. Chris observed that the state energy code already requires many new buildings to be “solar‑ready,” which reduces incremental structural costs and installed complexity. Board members also asked whether the policy would require batteries; Banfield said the language does not mention batteries and the policy would not preclude adding them, while CMLP staff said interconnection review could require mitigation (including batteries) for larger arrays if grid impacts are a concern.

Public commenter Pamela Drift endorsed the warrant article and urged stronger measures on batteries, saying curtailment should not be part of policy and batteries (or incentives for batteries) are needed to avoid wasting local solar generation. “Curtailment should not be a part of any policy. It’s a waste of investment return and clean energy,” Drift said.

After discussion, the Light Board moved, seconded and voted to recommend affirmative action on the article; board members present voted in favor. The board’s recommendation will be reported as part of the Town Meeting information record when the article is presented.