Wayland energy panel approves fall agenda built around solar and outreach

WAYLAND -- July 30, 2025, Wayland energy panel races federal deadlines on landfill and rooftop solar. The Energy and Climate Committee on July 30 mapped a fall agenda around three municipal solar candidates, the capped landfill, the Town Hall roof and the middle school roof, as non-voting member John Harper warned developers will drop projects that can't break ground by next July or come online by the end of 2027. Sustainability Director Abigail Shute said Tighe & Bond is assessing landfill suitability under an amended DPW engineering contract. The town's new 35-cent-per-kilowatt-hour EV charger fee, in effect since July 1, is running $15 to $20 above supply and delivery costs. Chair Ellen R. Tohn and member Paul Dale pushed for targeted outreach to the 1,637 Wayland homes still heating with oil. The committee approved its June 10 minutes 4-0 and set its next meeting for Sept. 24.