Low-Income Community Shared Solar Revolving Fund

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.

What: proposed town meeting revolving fund so solar developers' payments can be passed through as electric supply rate discounts for income-eligible customers of Nantucket Power Choice, the town's electric aggregation program.
Where it stands: presented as part of outline #3 of town-sponsored warrant articles; no vote and no objections from the board.
Next: the article is prepared so the town can act quickly if a suitable off-island solar developer partner is found.

Presented by Lauren Sinatra, the town's energy coordinator (Lauren Sinatra). Recent changes to Massachusetts solar rules let municipal aggregations offer extra rate discounts to income-eligible residents through low-income community shared solar projects built off island; the aim is lower electric bills, not solar installations on island.
Under the state SMART incentive program, developers receive added benefits for serving low-income customers. A participating developer would pay the town in connection with its project, the town would deposit the payments in the revolving fund, and the fund would reimburse the aggregation's electricity supplier for the discount.
No town funding is involved. The model is borrowed from Natick; ideally the developer would pay the supplier directly and the town would not be an intermediary.
Brooke Mohr asked why a developer would pay the town; the answer was the state incentives and the developer's need for offtakers. Another board member called it a no-brainer because it brings money in from outside.
Related: Town Sponsored Warrant Articles for 2027.

Energy Coordinator described the proposed new revolving fund; no town money would be used. No objections.