Wayland energy panel advances solar, grant projects ahead of Town Meeting

WAYLAND — April 8, 2025 — Wayland's Energy and Climate Committee tracks $131,000 grant bid and rooftop solar progress. Sustainability Manager Abigail Schutt told the committee Tuesday the town has applied for just over $131,000 from the state Green Communities competitive grant to replace a failing chiller at the public safety building, with Wayland contributing roughly $150,000 in matching capital. The committee deferred a related attic insulation project as too costly this cycle. Schutt said the Council on Aging rooftop solar power purchase agreement has been signed and a construction kickoff is set for April 10, with a Loker Elementary ribbon-cutting May 12. Associate member Paul Dale reported a mailing to 1,700 oil-heated homes would cost roughly $2,500 with no current funding source. Member Tom Sciacca pushed back on a 10-year lease for three fossil-fuel school buses, saying he is "not happy with locking us into fossil units for 10 years."