Medfield Schools – Solar Opportunity

Medfield Schools – Solar Opportunity

At the 2021 Town Meeting, Medfield residents voted to support “a goal of eliminating or offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions originating in the Town by the year 2050 or earlier (known hereafter as the Net Zero 2050 goal).” With this mandate, the development of the Town of Medfield Climate Action Plan commenced. This plan outlines strategies to achieve net zero by 2050, with a core strategy of investing in renewable energy.

The Medfield Energy Committee has identified some priority projects and has asked the school committee to lead the way by considering the installation of solar at Medfield Public Schools, which represent the largest buildings and opportunity for solar in the Town of Medfield. The benefits of installing solar at the schools include:

• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• Off-set in the energy use in the schools
• Saving money and stabilizing future expenses
• Creating a visible reminder that the schools intend to be a part of the climate solution
• Helping counteract climate anxiety and improve mental health in children of every age

The school solar projects initially being considered include solar covered parking and sidewalk canopies at the schools, as well as rooftop installations.

The Medfield Energy Committee and the School Committee recognize the importance of engaging the citizens of Medfield in this process. As such, a survey and a series of public outreach events are planned by the Renewable Energy team in collaboration with Sustainable Medfield and Medfield Environment Action to share information about the proposed projects and to answer questions. These sessions are being planned for the Spring of 2023.

It is exciting to see our Medfield Schools leading the way in evaluating how local renewable energy can yield multiple benefits to the schools and the community, including advancing our Town towards its net zero goal by 2050.

For more information, visit the Medfield Energy Committee page at town.Medfield.net.