Climate panel flags $750,000 project manager cost

Energy & Climate Action Committee · Meeting of October 6, 2026

Shutesbury's Energy and Climate Action Committee flagged a possible $750,000 cost just to hire a required project manager for the elementary school's heating overhaul. Nate Longcope said the town is developing an RFQ based on a RISE building assessment outlining three electrification options, two estimated under $1 million and one costlier full air-to-air system; a ground-source heat pump option was ruled out after a prior estimate topped $9 million. Frank told the committee the school's aging oil tank must be replaced within a year at a cost of $150,000 to $250,000, and relayed a proposal to convert to propane as a bridge solution.

Members also learned the town has no separate budget line for street lighting costs paid to National Grid, which have run roughly $300 to $400 a month. "There is no line for street lighting," a member said. The committee unanimously approved its September 8 minutes, 5-0, and set its next meeting for November 10 at 5:30 p.m.

In the full story:

• Public Comments
• Town Streetlighting and Emergency Management Review
• Solar Battery Project with Colonial and ESS at the Library
• Climate Leader Technical Assistance Grant and Elementary School Decarbonization RFQ
• Oil Tank Replacement and Propane Bridge Proposal
• Green Communities Grant and Building Upgrades
• Other Committee Updates: Town Birthday Tabling, Stormwater, and Microgrids
• Minutes Approval and Scheduling
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,313 words

Source: the Energy & Climate Action Committee meeting of October 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.