Finance Committee endorses Fairbank solar lease, energy fund expansion

SUDBURY -- April 24, 2023, Sudbury FinCom clears solar articles, flags $1M school bus fund balance before Town Meeting. The Finance Committee voted unanimously April 24 to recommend approval of Articles 30 and 31, expanding the town's energy revolving fund and authorizing a 20-year power purchase agreement for rooftop solar at the new Fairbank Community Center, with vendor Select expected to deliver fixed-rate power at 10.4 to 11 cents per kilowatt-hour. Energy committee chair Rami Alwan said the landfill array currently nets about $187,000 annually. The committee separately voted 7-1 to recommend Article 12, with member Henry P. Sorett dissenting to preserve floor flexibility, after member Eric D. Poch called the Sudbury Public Schools $1 million bus revolving fund balance "a little extreme" against a $450,000 budget line. Finance Director Dennis agreed the balance "seems to be a high number." The committee meets at 6:30 p.m. on May 1, 2 and 3 ahead of Town Meeting sessions.