State comes through with $1m grant for Wellesley school solar projects

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has awarded Wellesley a $1m grant through the Climate Leader Communities program that will cover a good chunk of the cost of outfitting the Hardy and Hunnewell Elementary School solar panel projects. Wellesley Sustainability Director Marybeth Martello sounded confident during the June 5 Climate Action Committee meeting that the grant would come through, and Wellesley Executive Director Meghan Jop confirmed at the June 8 Select Board meeting that it indeed had.

The goal is to complete the school projects in the fall, Martello said.

Earlier this year there had been some angst in town over Wellesley’s bid for the grant due to town government protocols that needed to be resolved, as they eventually were (see “Wellesley climate action team breathes sigh of relief over school solar funding decision”). Numerous departments and individuals joined forces to secure the grant for Wellesley.

The capacity of arrays the town would install on the schools has been estimated to generate the equivalent of 92% of the electricity Hardy uses on an annual basis and 82% of what Hunnewell uses. This would translate to annual electricity costs being $50k less than 2025 levels for the schools, plus excess capacity would go to the Municipal Light Plant’s distribution grid for community use, Martello said earlier this year.

The $1m grant would add to roughly $3.2m in remaining school project funds that could go toward the project, plus funding from the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant’s WECARE program that was contingent on the state funding being approved.

Other takeaways from the June 5 Climate Action Committee meeting (see Wellesley Media recording):

• Food waste diversion: An impressive 640 pounds of food waste was diverted from the trash during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. (Learn about the town’s waste reduction efforts at the public schools in a presentation by Amber Crowley and Amber Keller about 32 minutes into the Wellesley Media recording of the April 3 Climate Action Committee meeting.
• National Grid strikes again: National Grid plans to dig up the practically new pavement on Hardy Road (leading to new Hardy Elementary School, which opened in summer of 2024) to replace a leaky gas pipe. The Climate Action Committee has reached out to the three households on that street and National Grid about a possible plan for de-commissioning the pipes and electrifying the homes. Though Committee Chair Lise Olney acknowledged achieving the preferred outcome on this would be challenging given a June 12 deadline from National Grid. Legislation has been proposed in the state to require utility companies to give municipalities more of a heads up on plans.  Unexpected National Grid plans have thrown off town construction projects in recent years. On the bright side, Wellesley has gained access to a general list of National Grid projects expected to be three to five years out, so there may be opportunities for the town to work with the utility to get ahead of some future work.
• Geothermal investment: Committee members expressed enthusiasm over potential state funding that could be used by municipalities to pay for geothermal energy projects if key legislation passes. Wellesley recently held a forum on “Geothermal Solutions for Affordable Heating & Cooling” at the Village Church, which is at the forefront of this clean energy option locally.