Article 30. Citizen Petition: Solar Rooftop Bylaw 

ARTICLE 30. To see if the Town will vote to adopt the following bylaw requiring integrated solar rooftop systems on all newly constructed Town buildings:

Town of Concord, Massachusetts
SOLAR ROOFTOP BYLAW

All new public buildings constructed by the Town shall include rooftop solar in their design and

construction. The intent is to pursue a strategy of single, integrated bids for the design, and

construction of new buildings, which minimize duplicative efforts by multiple town departments. As such, these systems are built-out at time of initial constructions, as opposed to separate, post-construction implementation.

• Applies to electrified buildings which can support a solar capacity of 7.500kW or greater.
• Includes both Concord Public Schools (CPS) and town-government buildings.
• Systems shall be 'behind-the-meter' and will not directly involve the Concord Municipal Light Plant, except as required by CMLP policy.
• To the extent possible, consistent with financial objectives, these rooftop systems should be designed to blend seamlessly with the building's architecture, serving as both functional and aesthetic elements of the exterior.
• The Select Board shall include a reference to this bylaw in the charge to all future Town Building Committees (School and Town Buildings)
• Exceptions to this bylaw may be granted by the Town of Concord Select Board.

Article Explanation

This policy implements a recommendation from the Solar Implementation Task Force 2024 final report that all new Town and School buildings include rooftop solar as an integral component of the building design and panels are included in the primary construction bidding process. Using new municipal rooftops helps Concord achieve its sustainability goal of up to 20MW of solar generation on Town owned property. It will reduce operating costs and is consistent with Concord’s aim of minimizing the carbon footprint of public buildings. Financial payback without any subsidies is expected to be 6-8 years based on current construction costs and CMLP rate structure.

Article Motion

Mr. Banfield moves that the Town urge the Select Board to adopt a policy requiring integrated solar rooftop systems on all newly constructed Town buildings substantially as follows:

Solar Rooftop Policy

All new public buildings constructed by the Town shall include rooftop solar in their design and construction.  The intent is to pursue a strategy of single, integrated bids for the design, and construction of new buildings, which minimize duplicative efforts by multiple town departments.  As such, these systems are built-out at time of initial constructions, as opposed to separate, post-construction implementation.

• Applies to electrified buildings which can support a solar capacity of 7.500kW or greater.
• Includes both Concord Public Schools (CPS) and town-government buildings.
• Systems shall be 'behind-the-meter' and will not directly involve the Concord Municipal Light Plant, except as required by CMLP policy.  
• To the extent possible, consistent with financial objectives, these rooftop systems should be designed to blend seamlessly with the building's architecture, serving as both functional and aesthetic elements of the exterior.  
• The Select Board shall include a reference to this bylaw in the charge to all future Town Building Committees (School and Town Buildings) 

Exceptions to this bylaw may be granted by the Town of Concord Select Board.