Wiscasset is closer to a possible money-saving move on power. Titan Energy’s Adam Teff told the board the town has gotten a net energy billing offer from Ameresco totaling $566,355 in savings on Central Maine Power bills over 20 years, and another, from ReVision Energy, totaling $514,868.

The board voted 5-0 to approve the contract with Ameresco contingent on a review by the town’s law firm, Bernstein-Shur.

Besides the savings difference, Teff said Ameresco’s offer – for credits tied to energy from a five-megawatt solar project in Bucksport – has “a major advantage for Wiscasset:” The project’s financing and local permitting have been secured, and credits should be flowing by summer 2023, he said. Teff advised the board to plan to stay in the program the whole 20 years. The out would be finding another customer to take over those energy credits, he said.

The fixed discount each of the New England-based firms has offered – 22% from Ameresco, 20% from ReVision – are better then the town stands to get as firms’ costs rise, Teff said.

“I think dawdling on these things is sometimes what towns do (and) shouldn’t,” Selectman Terry Heller said. “Moving the process along, letting them know, ‘Yeah, we like (it) would be important ...”

Teff said he will let Ameresco know.

Also Feb. 15, Town Manager Dennis Simmons reported he just learned from engineering firm Wright-Pierce, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is involving the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Old Ferry Road culvert repair. “(This) means we’re going to get bogged down in a whole lot more bureaucracy to try to get this thing done.” He now expects the work to happen in the November to April range instead of July to September.

The board asked Simmons to work on the town property use policy the ordinance review committee (ORC) drafted. Selectmen discussed having the parks and recreation director handle requests to use Wiscasset Community Center. Then Director Duane Goud offered to also field the requests for use of other town properties. Goud suggested the board authorize Simmons, and Simmons authorize him. Selectmen said they would support it, if it fits town rules. Simmons will check. 

Selectmen put Larry Rines on the broadband committee; gave Karl Olson three more years on the planning board and ORC; praised public works’ plowing in recent snowstorms; and reported hearing several positive comments on the sand’s move to the transfer station for residents to better access it.