NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — As the Greylock School project moves into Module 6 — design development — there's a nagging question related to the geothermal system.
There's been concern as to whether the system will work at the site and now a second concern is if it will be funded.
The first question is so far partially answered based on investigative drilling at the closed school over the last week, said Jesse Saylor of TSKP Studio.
"There was the potential that we couldn't drill at all, frankly, from the stories we were hearing, but ... we had a good experience here," he told the School Building Committee on Tuesday. "It is not an ideal experience, but it's pretty good. We can drill quickly, and the cost to drill, we don't expect will be that high."
He had spoken with the driller and the rough estimate he was given was "reasonable relative to our estimate." The drilling reached a depth of 440 feet below grade and was stopped at that point because the water pressure was so high.
The bedrock is deep, about 200 feet, so more wells may be needed as the bedrock has a higher conductivity of heat. This will be clearer within a week or so, once all the data is reviewed.
"Just understanding that conductivity will really either confirm our design and assumptions to date, it may just modify them slightly, or it's still possible that it could be a big change," Saylor said.
"You kind of made my hair stand up at the last meeting," she said.
The committee had voted reluctantly to add in the geothermal system under pressure from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The caveat had been that the estimated $3.5 million system would be funded through a state grant and some $2.5 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act, which included a wide range of alternative energy supports.
Funding for clean energy systems may be at risk with the incoming administration. Committee member Benjamin Lamb said the possibility of programs being eliminated was raised
at an information session held by the state's Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office earlier this week in Pittsfield.
Tim Alix of owner's project manager Colliers International said he wasn't sure what would happen.
"I think the application is once the system is operational, so I don't think that we could even apply for any of the IRA funds before the building is is completed," said Alix. "So we wouldn't be able to get partial funding, if you will, on some of the wells that were are drilling, even if the law was to change partially through construction."
Superintendent Barbara Malkas said she heard at a workshop last week at the Massachusetts Association of School Committees' conference that plans were in the works for the state to supplement and pick up some programs. She noted that the elimination of IRA funding was purely speculation at this point.
"There are already plans in place for the state to kind of backfill that, because there are also state goals around shifting to green municipal buildings by 2050," she said. "And so there is some consideration around how to fund projects that are already in the pipeline but won't be at the point of completion, where they could apply for that reimbursement through IRA.
"So I don't necessarily think that it's going to be the absence of the reimbursement funding that we need to consider at this point."
The mayor said she has already had conversations with the federal delegation, who are also concerned about other projects in the pipeline.
"We'll continue to work with the feds and the state to be sure that they know our project has been approved and is looking for this kind of funding," she said. "So at this point, we're kind of in a holding pattern for now."
In other business, Saylor noted on some of the design elements that will be worked on — such as mechanicals, piping and ductwork — and that he will touch base with the working groups to see if there are any new issues or needs that have arisen since their last meetings.
The mayor and Malkas said they are reviewing new members to replace those who have fallen off the committee. It's makeup requires certain professions and experience in addition to community members, officials, and educators. Members will also be sent a survey on possible changes to the dates and times for monthly meetings, which have been hybrid on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m.
