Net-metering letter
Selectmen voted unanimously (minus Selectman Tim Clark, who was absent) to send a letter to the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy in support of bills in the state House of Representatives and Senate that would increase the net-metering cap in Massachusetts. Harvard’s Energy Advisory Committee asked for the letter, saying it would benefit those in town who are participating in the Solarize Mass and Harvard Community Solar Garden projects.
Energy committee member Jim Elkind told Selectmen net metering contributes, in his estimation, about 15 percent of the value of residential solar energy installations.
Net metering is an arrangement through which owners of small renewable energy facilities (solar or wind, for example) can receive retail prices from their utility for the excess energy they generate. These customers are billed for the net amount of energy they consume: the total amount of energy they use minus the total amount they generate. Under the current net metering cap, National Grid is required to accommodate up to 51 megawatts of net metering statewide. According to Elkind, there are 28 megawatts of capacity already being net metered and 189 megawatts that have applied to be net metered.
“When I look at this letter, I couldn’t see how submitting this letter could possibly hurt Harvard,” said Selectmen Chair Marie Sobalvarro.
Selectman Ron Ricci said he supports raising the cap but believes the compensation level should be at less than retail.
“The utility company is being asked to buy something back at retail they sell at retail, and I have a problem with that,” Ricci said.
Elkind said the letter addressed raising the cap and did not discuss the level of payment.
In light of Ricci’s concern, Selectmen added the phrase “with some appropriately negotiated reimbursement rate” to the letter.
