Edgartown considers sites for solar panels

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Edgartown selectmen, meeting with the town’s water commissioners Tuesday, considered possibly installing solar photovoltaic panels on water department land.

Town administrator Pam Dolby said Edgartown could get the solar panels through a project that would be partly funded by the Cape and Vineyard Energy Cooperative (CVEC). The solar panels could produce all the electricity used by town government, and possibly heat also.

Ms. Dolby said each solar panel array requires six acres of land, and the town’s goal is to have four. Selectman Art Smadbeck said the CVEC would lease the land and contract with a company to place the solar panels and maintain them. Edgartown would receive credit for leftover electricity sold back to the cooperative.

The water commissioners and water superintendent Fred Domont cautioned that anything that involves a change of use for water department land means a long legislative process. Nonetheless, he said the commissioners do not object to the town considering water department land as a possible option for alternative energy uses.

Before the selectmen met with the water commissioners, they approved the warrant for a special town meeting on October 28, 7 pm, at the Old Whaling Church. They also approved a request from Lattanzi’s Restaurant to close November 4 and reopen December 8.