On Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 7:10pm, we will be holding a Special Town Meeting (within the Annual Town Meeting, which begins on Monday, April 29, 2024) to discuss the following:

Article 1: In-town Utility Scale Battery

To determine whether the Town will authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Select Board, to borrow by the issuance of general obligation bonds or notes under the provisions of Mass. Gen. Laws c. 44 or any other authority, a sum not to exceed $10,400,000 for the design and construction of grid-scale battery storage in the Town of Concord, the funds so borrowed to be expended for engineering design and legal services; hearings; permits and other approvals; material, construction, and installation specifications; bid preparation; materials purchase; construction and installation services; control systems; and distribution and expansions, upgrades and improvements, and to be repaid in the first instance from revenues of the Concord Municipal Light Plant, or take any other action relative thereto.

Over the past several weeks, we have made several presentations and discussions on this topic:

• Solar Task Force (4/4/2024)
  • Presentation
• Concord Municipal Light Board (4/10/2024)
  • The Light Board voted unanimously to support the article.
• League of Women Voters (4/10/2024)
  • Warrant Review session
• Concord Climate Action Network (4/16/2024 - unfilmed)
  • Held at the First Parish Church
• Joint Select Board / Finance Committee Hearing (4/16/2024)
  • Presentation
• Select Board (4/23/2024)
  • The Select Board voted unanimously to support Article 1 at the Special Town Meeting.
• Light Board (4/24/2024)
  • The Light Board received a draft of the presentation that will be delivered at Town Meeting.
• Finance Committee (4/25/2024)
  • The Finance Committee voted to recommend affirmative action on this article at the Special Town Meeting. (10 Aye; 0 Nay; 1 Abstain)

Get our comprehensive FAQ document here (updated 4/27/2024):