Palmer Select Board Votes to Join State Clean Energy Financing Program for Commercial Properties

PALMER -- September 22, 2025, Palmer Select Board authorizes town participation in Massachusetts commercial clean energy financing program. The board voted 4-0-1 Monday night to adopt Resolution 2026-06, joining the PACE Massachusetts program that allows commercial property owners and multi-family buildings of five units or more to finance clean energy upgrades through private capital secured as a property tax betterment. Council President Brad confirmed the town bears no financial liability, financing flows through Mass Development and private investors, with the town acting solely as the betterment-billing intermediary. "It is all 100 percent privately backed financing," Brad said, noting the assessing office will absorb a modest increase in workload. Member Phil abstained without explanation. The board also approved House Bill 4282, reformatting existing authorization for five additional all-alcoholic-beverage licenses per requirements from Representative Smola's office, and passed Resolution 2026-05 delegating executive session minutes approval to the council president to address a multi-year backlog. The meeting closed in executive session on strategy for collective bargaining with Palmer Police, PBA Local 071.