The Energy Advisory Committee’s progress toward applying for Green Community (GC) status in time for the next round of Green Community grant funding stalled at the Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday. BOS Chairman Peter Warren, reluctant to make any “substantive decisions” without a full board, postponed BOS actions on HEAC requests until the next BOS meeting in two weeks.
Trying to meet the Nov. 19 GC application deadline, HEAC had earlier gotten unanimous support for the five GC requirements from the Finance Committee and support for a zoning bylaw change from the Planning Board. Hoping to maintain the momentum, HEAC came to the BOS with several requests: approval of the old landfill behind the transfer station as a potential solar energy-generation site; a warrant article on behalf of HEAC for adoption of Appendix 120 AA to the State Building Code, the “stretch energy code”; call for a Special Town Meeting to consider the stretch code and the zoning bylaw change necessary for the solar site; and consideration of a fuel-efficient vehicle policy and a five-year energy reduction plan.
The stumbling block for Warren and Ricci appeared to be putting the Stretch Energy Code warrant article before a Special Town Meeting. A stretch energy code article was included in last spring’s Town Meeting warrant, but later withdrawn. Warren expressed concern that there was insufficient public information for a decision. HEAC had been planning a public forum for Oct. 21, but Warren wanted one before the next BOS meeting. Ricci expressed a need for speakers representing both sides of the issue and included builders, realtors, and the building inspector. Selectwoman Marie Sobalvarro suggested asking the League of Women Voters of Harvard to host a forum at Volunteers Hall Thursday, Oct. 14, little time to get out publicity for the event, but before the BOS meeting on the 19th. Selectmen Ricci and Clark were designated to assist HEAC in finding panel members for the forum.
Warren and Ricci verbally agreed with the choice of the Department of Public Works (DPW) area to meet the Green Community requirement for specific zoning allowing renewable energy generation, manufacturing, or research and development without a special permit. The zoning need addresses only one of the three possible uses. As the simplest way to meet the requirement, HEAC proposed creating a designated overlay area for two or three acres at the back of the DPW facility to allow installation of a large photovoltaic array. No array is required, only the zoning to allow it. By using a town-owned site, a general zoning change would not be required and the town would also be more likely to benefit from any generated energy. The town of Lincoln pursued a similar policy, designating a town-owned parking lot for a combination raised solar installation and parking shelter.
To date, 35 Massachusetts cities and towns have state Green Community status and 49 have adopted the stretch energy code. Among the 35 are Acton, Lancaster, Athol, Greenfield, Lexington, Townsend, and Worcester. Ayer is actively pursuing an application. Devens is not eligible for GC funding, but has indicated it will adopt the stretch code this year.
