by S. M. Smoller

I recently submitted this question to the online PMLP Energy Awareness Forum: “Please tell us more about your plans to add solar panels to your property by Fall 2025. Will the panels be roof mounted? Or, where will they be placed? How much energy will be produced? Is the solar energy produced available to call on when our peaker plants are used by ISO? Is there any solar planned for the PMLP’s former Diesel plant? Panels for the old diesel plant’s new $764,000 PVC membrane roof? Are there any energy efficiency features as part of the new $533,000 windows planned at that site?”

It took a few days to receive verification of their receipt of the question, but my question has never been posted to the forum.

I did get an e-mail reply from John Maihos of PMLP Human Resources. Here is his answer – which again does not appear on the Energy Awareness Forum. “Thanks for your questions. We are researching the feasibility of adding solar panels to our property at 201 Warren Street extension. As opposed to roof-mounted panels, the space under consideration is where the shrubbery is just before coming up the hill to our office. No further details are available at this time, although it may be possible to tie this generation into an on-site battery.

“These assets would not be available for ISO New England as solar panels are not a substitute for on-call demand needs at this time.

“The windows recommended by the architectural engineers are a translucent panel, UV protected on both sides, with a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of .39 to allow natural solar heat to condition the building.”

Why is the Energy Awareness Forum not updated?

The Forum was originally a live opportunity to ask questions of PMLP administration – although our request was for involvement with the PMLP Commission. No commissioner ever attended the forum when it met live. PMLP then opted to move the forum opportunity online and posted it to the front page of their website. It is now found at the bottom of the PMLP About Us/Getting to know us webpage – three link from the front page.

Why continue with this lack of transparency? Why not publish ratepayer questions and answers as done before? Even though PMLP alloted 60 days to answer a query.

The photo is an aerial view of the former PMLP diesel plant on Warren St. Ext. It is receiving a new roof and windows at a cost of $1.3 million.