The Cohasset Alternative Energy Committee (AEC) kicked off the new year at its Jan. 8 meeting with a renewed focus on major initiatives, including reviving the procurement process for solar arrays at town schools and exploring a potential warrant article for a municipal climate commitment. The meeting, led by Chair Tanya Bodell, began with the approval of the prior meeting's minutes. A motion to approve the minutes, allowing for final formatting edits before posting, passed 6-0.

A primary focus was the solar energy array procurement for Cohasset Public Schools. A newly formed subcommittee will restart the process, this time working closely with school officials to identify viable locations for panels on roofs, in parking lots as carports, or as ground-mounted systems. The goal is to avoid the aesthetic concerns that halted previous efforts. "This one will work closely with the school to make sure they're comfortable with things before we go out to procure," Bodell explained, noting that any project completed by the end of 2027 would be eligible for a significant 30% investment tax credit. Assistant Town Planner Julia Gillis, the committee's staff liaison, confirmed she would coordinate a meeting between the subcommittee and the town's procurement officer.

The committee also received promising financial news from member Chris Oddleifson regarding the town’s existing solar arrays. With new inverters set to be installed soon, performance is expected to rebound significantly. "Palmer says that we should expect an output of about 600,000 kilowatt hours per year," Oddleifson reported, adding that this "would give us an annual benefit of $96,000." This positive outlook fueled discussion on broader climate goals, including a potential spring town meeting warrant article for a non-binding resolution committing the municipality to net-zero emissions by 2050. Member Debbie Cook expressed a sense of urgency, saying, "I feel like the climate has changed... and that's why I'm just saying this." The committee agreed to first engage with town leadership to gauge support for the initiative. Highlighting the complexity of achieving "Climate Leader" status, member Steven Wenner added, "What about the specialized stretch code? If we want to make a push for climate leaders, we've got to get the specialized stretch code."

The committee also discussed ongoing state-level delays with an EV charger replacement grant, with Gillis reporting that the vendor is "frustrated on the state delays."

The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.