Pepperell Climate Panel Votes to Add Solar Proposal to Warrant

Climate Change Committee · Meeting of March 19, 2026

Pepperell Climate Change Committee votes to put a $100,000 rooftop solar proposal on the spring Town Meeting warrant. Member Jim presented a plan, built on a SolSmart readiness study, for a 25-kilowatt array likely on the police station roof, with a payoff period of "17 years or less" thanks to state "smart" credits worth about 11 cents per kilowatt-hour on top of the standard 23-cent offset rate. The committee had to act that night or gather 10 signatures by noon the next day to make the warrant, driven by a federal funding deadline requiring the project be "shovel ready" by July 1.

Member Tony warned the plan still "opens up a path for challenging questions" and said organizers want to present to the Select Board and Finance Committee first. The vote passed with members Jim, Jen, Renee, Naomi, Mary and Beryl in favor. Separately, member Bob reported a private 20-acre solar array being cleared near the landfill should also help unstick the town's long-stalled landfill solar project.

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Source: the Climate Change Committee meeting of March 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.