Pepperell Selectmen Approve Solar Contract Transfer to Nexamp After Bankruptcy Delay

PEPPERELL — September 8, 2014 — Pepperell selectmen unanimously approved a landfill solar array contract reassignment to Nexamp PEPRO LLC at their September 8 meeting, capping more than a year of delay caused by the original contractor's bankruptcy. The 640-kilowatt array — larger than the originally projected 500 kilowatts — will be built on the town's capped landfill under a power purchase agreement at 9.15 cents per kilowatt-hour, against the town's current blended rate of roughly 15.5 cents, saving an estimated 6.5 cents on every kilowatt consumed. Town Counsel Ned Richardson approved the reassignment from Broadway Renewable Strategies, with engineering firm Weston and Sampson recommending the board proceed without rebidding. The board also set the fall special town meeting for October 27 at Nissitissit Middle School, with articles due by noon September 25, and heard public comment urging a review of water and sewer betterment fees — reportedly as high as $50,000 on one recent commercial project — that residents said were discouraging development. The meeting came one night before a special town election on a Proposition 2½ override to fund a $1,136,153 supplemental budget, approved 283 to 34 at a prior special town meeting.