Select Board OKs Pullback on Green Energy Buys

Select Board · Meeting of March 16, 2026

Acton Select Board voted to scale back extra renewable energy purchases to lower electric rates for all ratepayers. The board unanimously authorized the town manager to negotiate a "blend and extend" contract for Acton Power Choice through December 2030, with energy consultant Paul Gromer explaining that paying extra for renewable energy no longer spurs new clean power because developers can't meet even the state minimum. A companion vote approved a new municipal electricity contract cutting the town's own costs by "about three cents a kilowatt hour." The board also voted to authorize Town Manager John to negotiate a tax increment financing deal with Insulet, now the town's largest employer, and continued a hearing on buying 46 Taylor Road for conservation to April 6, after resident Tina Abe said, "Mark Twain said buy land.

They're not making it anymore."

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Source: the Select Board meeting of March 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.