Pine Street solar farm a ‘windfall’ for Canton
By Mike BergerCanton Finance Director Jim Murgia told selectmen Tuesday night that the board’s decision to create a solar facility at the former Pine Street dump has created a massive financial windfall for the town, resulting in hundreds of thousands in electrical savings and millions in additional revenue.
Aerial photo of Canton solar facility on Pine Street
In fiscal year 2013, selectmen voted to lease 15 acres of the former landfill to Southern Sky Renewable Energy to install a 5.6-megawatt solar farm. The facility started to generate electricity for all municipal and school buildings in the first quarter of FY13. Murgia said the town has saved nearly $740,000 in electrical costs over four years, including $130,000 in the first five months of FY17.
Additionally, the town has taken in over $2 million in leasing fees, including $304,000 in FY13, $414,000 in FY14, $498,000 in FY15, $551,000 in FY16, and $262,000 through the first five months of FY17.
The town also filed a request with the state Department of Public Utilities and received a favorable opinion to require Eversource to cut checks to the town for credit balances created in part by the town’s electrical conservation efforts, and thus far Eversource has sent over $2 million to the town.
Murgia has recommended that the town establish a Solar Facility Stabilization Fund to store these additional revenues for special town appropriations.
In other news:
* Selectmen opened the warrant for the 2017 annual town meeting, to be held on May 8. The warrant for all zoning and non-zoning articles will close on Friday, January 6, at noon. Articles should be submitted to the selectmen’s office at Town Hall. Already 35 articles have been submitted, including proposals for the senior citizen work program; a special tax agreement for Fresenius Kabi; legislation concerning Reservoir Pond; creation of a solar facility stabilization fund; playground improvements; and lease authorization for the Tilden House. Other proposals include changing the age of retired police officers to work paid details; changing the number of FinCom members from 12 to nine; funding for the Hansen Elementary roof; and accepting Cedarcrest Road Extension, Beatrice Way, and New Boston Drive as public ways. Other articles call for the adoption of the Stretch Building Code so Canton can be accepted as a “Green Community” and further local controls to regulate recreational marijuana. Among the submitted zoning articles are a proposal to downsize the density potential of golf courses; changes to the definitions of manufacturing and scientific/research laboratories; and 43D designations for two Reebok properties …
See this week’s Canton Citizen to read the full version of this story. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today (also available in digital form).
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=35060
Posted by Mike Berger
on Dec 23 2016. Filed under News, Town Government.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
