Select Board wins amendment limiting landfill solar lease to 20 years; article advances to ballot

Select Board member Carleigh Beriont presented Article 31, authorizing the Select Board to negotiate a long‑term lease of town‑owned landfill property on Hardart's Way to Kearsarge Solar LLC for development of a solar array, and to negotiate net‑metering, PILOT and related agreements. Concerns raised by residents included potential disturbance of landfill caps and questions about how net‑metering savings or lease revenue would be allocated.

An amendment added an explicit lease‑term limit of up to 20 years; voters approved the amendment. Town Manager Jamie Sullivan explained the town will negotiate protections for the landfill cap and net‑metering terms. The Select Board recommended Article 31 as amended. The amended warrant language will appear on the March 10 ballot.