Wayland Energy Committee plots two-track August grant push for school decarbonization

WAYLAND -- May 19, 2026, Wayland pivots to $1.15M Climate Leader bid after losing Green Schools grant. The Energy and Climate Committee on Monday endorsed a two-track August application, a study grant up to $150,000 to evaluate replacing roughly 70 aging unit ventilators at the middle school, and a project grant covering about $890,000 in domestic hot water heat pumps and two rooftop air handler replacements. Facilities Director Mike Fea, working with Ameresco, said the units installed in the 1970s are failing at "an alarming rate." Chair Ellen R. Tohn flagged that the town's decarbonization roadmap projected the equipment would last until 2035 and said the narrative must reconcile the gap. The committee also accepted $9,829 in state EVIP money for a Level 2 charger at the police station and approved a revised charge adding climate adaptation language pushed by member Tom Sciacca.