Wayland energy panel votes 4-0 to seek landfill solar article for spring meeting

WAYLAND — December 14, 2022 — Wayland's Energy and Climate Committee voted 4-0 to recommend a spring town meeting warrant article authorizing 20-year contracts for solar atop the transfer station landfill. Chair Ellen Tohn said the move is procedural — "it's just to get us in the queue" — and would let the town sign a non-binding letter of intent with Solect or Ameresco to begin technical and financial review. Member Bill Huss initially planned to abstain before clarifying language was added conditioning contract negotiations on an acceptable review. The committee also disclosed that its top candidate for a new sustainability manager, posted at $75,000 to $93,000, declined after a Cambridge employer offered Ph.D. funding the town could not match. Members will invite town planner Brendan to a Jan. 11 meeting to discuss the state's forthcoming opt-in net-zero stretch code, which Dec. 31 regulations will release but which the committee said is unlikely to make spring town meeting.