Selectmen to vote August 28 on plan to install solar panels

By Scott Benjamin

BROOKFIELD -- The Board of Selectmen is expected to vote later this month on installing solar panels at the three public schools, which the recommended contractor has stated will save a collective $1,497,395 over 20 years.

Adam Teff, the general manager for Titan Energy, a consultant based in Hartford, said the “front of the meter” proposed program from Verogy, based in West Hartford, has “a fixed rate.”

“There is no risk of the value going down,” he commented August 4 at the selectmen’s regular meeting.

Community Development Specialist Greg Dembowski said 107 municipal properties were identified and nine were studied before the recommendation to install panels in the senior parking lot at Brookfield High School (BHS0 and roof tops at Whisconier Middle School and Candlewood Lake Elementary School.

Verogy has stated that the annual savings would be $37,095 at BHS, $20,266 at WMS and $21,127 at CLES.

In response to a question from Selectman Bob Belden, Teff said that there are both “front of the meter” and “back of the meter” options. He noted that “front of the meter is incentivized differently” since it will “deliver solar energy back to the grid.”

In response to a question from Selectman Tara Carr, Teff said the selection of Verogy was based on what would be “most advantageous for the town.”

He told the board that after submitting request for proposal, four companies came to the sites on June 25 and then submitted their proposals by June 16.

Dembowski said Titan Energy and the town received recommendations for Verogy from Fred Hurley, the Public Works Department director in Newtown, and Mark Walter, the town administrator in Columbia, who have overseen similar projects.

He underscored that “renewable energy” is a component in the proposed update of the municipal Plan of Conservation & Development.

Dembowski said that after speaking with local fire officials, it was determined that the two local fire companies could adequately respond to any emergencies. related to the solar panels. He said there were “no problems” expressed by the Board of Education members who were informed about the project.

The selectmen voted unanimously to table action so they could further study the information from the 41-minute presentation.

A special meeting of the board is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, to consider the proposal.

Dembowski said that if the plan is submitted by October 1 the construction should be completed by September 1 of next year.