More cookies? Wiscasset, Johnson Controls continue talks

As Wiscasset selectmen and other residents June 25 worked to understand Johnson Controls’ proposed energy project, State Rep. Edward Polewarczyk, R – Wiscasset, determined, as proposed, the project’s costs and the guaranteed energy savings over the 20-year debt are a “wash.” Any energy savings beyond that are unknown, Selectmen’s Chair Sarah Whitfield said. Whitfield and Polewarczyk asked the most questions in the public hearing at Wiscasset Community Center’s Senior Center.

“The world could change, and we could save $10, or it could be we save $10 million because energy costs go up that much over 20 years,” Whitfield said. She asked Johnson Controls representative Dean Angeledes if she was saying that right. He nodded. At other points, he and others explained the savings, as proposed, would exceed the payments by a cumulative, $64,000 over that 20-year period. 

Selectmen’s Vice Chair Pam Dunning said, for someone outside the industry to understand the town is not making a big sum off the project, clear wording is needed. Otherwise, taxpayers will ask where the savings are, and if their tax bills are going down, Dunning said.

“I can’t stop tax bills. But I can try to stop them from going up,” Angeledes said.

He said if the town nods the project, the firm would seek banks’ bids; the bank picked would put $1.9 million into escrow for the construction project; and the energy savings would offset the payments, “100%.”

“There’s no out of pocket, or up front cost to the town, whatsoever. Zero,” Angeledes told selectmen. 

The firm has usually figured a project will take 12 months, but is now figuring 16 months in case of supply chain issues, he said. Schools and other buildings could be open their normal hours and the firm will work around those, Angeledes said. 

Heat pumps are not part of the project because ones that can work in Maine’s below zero temperatures are just starting to be built, and are “extremely costly,” he said.

Cassaundra Rose said the Wiscasset Climate Action Team she chairs would be interested in helping the board and the firm find funding sources for a switch to heat pumps, as a move toward electrical energy she said does not create the air quality problems of fossil fuels.

The savings heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC) work would bring fell about $150,000 short of offsetting the cost for that, so it was not proposed, Angeledes said. Town Manager Dennis Simmons noted the town already has about $300,000 approved for HVAC work. Voters approved it a couple years ago, Simmons said.

HVAC could be added to the project, with a change order to the agreement, Angeledes said. 

While the town has not committed to this project, Angeledes reiterated the firm’s willingness to also help with others, including the sewer treatment plant move and potentially a new town hall.

The energy project’s proposed solar panels at the high school would be ground-mounted; the gym roof would not support them, Superintendent of Schools Kim Andersson said. 

Rose praised the proposal for including weatherizing and other ways to save energy. And she predicted more options will open up for recycling solar panels.   Marty Fox had a different take on the proposal. He said he is familiar with the project through his service on the budget committee and climate action team and, since most of the savings are through solar, why would the town not go out to bid on that to seek a better return on the investment.    That would not be ethical, Angeledes said. Dunning and Selectman Terry Heller agreed. Simmons said it could also pose a legal problem, and other firms might not guarantee the energy savings like Johnson Controls does. If the town sought bids, “This just goes away,” Simmons said, picking up the stack of papers and holding it first behind the table and then to his left, as he spoke. “’Cause Johnson Controls didn’t come in here and do all of this work, just so we could take this as a template and say ‘Now we’re going to go out to bid’...”   The firm has been working with the town several months and consulting multiple solar vendors to get the best prices, Angeledes said. “I won’t have anybody shopping out my project, piecemeal.”   Plans call for Whitfield to get Johnson Controls a list of proposed revisions to the contract and, when selectmen get the document back, they can consider seeking voter approval at either a special town meeting or in the November elections.   “We want to make sure that everybody understands the good work that we’re going to do and that ultimately it’s a benefit for everyone in Wiscasset ... I’m here for the long term, and I want to work with Dennis and ... you folks to help you achieve the goals that you’re looking to achieve (in) energy savings ... and whatever we can do to help in that regard, you can count on us as a resource,” Angeledes said.   By now, he can drive to Wiscasset blindfolded, he said laughing. “I’m hoping that this (project) is just the beginning of a successful partnership, a collaboration ...” The firm was thrilled to take part in the town’s Earth Day celebration this spring, he added. “And if I have to bake more cookies, I will.”   “That might be necessary,” Whitfield said.