Wenham Select Board Backs Solar Array That Could Save Town $932,000

WENHAM -- August 5, 2025, Wenham Select Board advances solar project with $932,000 savings potential and clears Cherry Street for state-run sale. At the August 5 meeting, the board gave unanimous direction to staff to move forward on a proposed ground-mounted solar array at the Iron Rail property on Grapevine Road, presented by Kate Mallory, that would offset 63 percent of the town's municipal electric load and generate between $800,000 and $932,000 in savings over 25 years, but only if a contract with Select Senior Select Company is signed before a December 31, 2025 federal subsidy deadline. The board also voted 5-0 to direct Town Administrator Steve to notify the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance that Wenham agrees to dispose of the blighted, historically designated 24 Cherry Street through a DCAM-managed request-for-proposals process under the Affordable Homes Act, with affordable housing as the stated first preference. Separately, the board extended the Buker School lease for 10 years and set a $26,400 minimum auction bid for a surplus Pleasant Street parcel.