Concord School Committee members raised questions about a proposed 20-year solar deal for the middle school, delaying a vote on the contract.

The committee reviewed a license agreement with Solect Energy Development LLC at its Sept. 23 meeting, The Concord Bridge first reported. The deal would let Solect install, own and operate solar panels on the Ellen Garrison Building at Concord Middle School.

Chair Sandeep Pisharody said he counted 18 concerns after his first readthrough of the contract. Member Drew Magliozzi said he tried to boil his own list down to three.

"I don't want to run into a 20-year decision in haste," Pisharody said at the meeting. "I mean, it's a long time."

The questions centered on four areas: who pays for repairs and maintenance, how much roof access Solect would get, potential costs to the district and what happens if the solar company stops operating.

The building's roof warranty emerged as a sticking point. Member Tracey Marano and METCO representative Michelle MacDougall both raised questions about it. Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Robert Conry called protecting the warranty a priority, saying the district needs a guarantee that the warranty will be held no matter how the solar installation proceeds.

Under the proposed agreement, the district would have to avoid any modifications that block sunlight from reaching the panels. Solect would have access to the property for construction and maintenance. The district's own access to the solar equipment would be restricted.

The deal has a long backstory. The district failed to win a $1.4 million Green School Works state grant, The Concord Bridge reported in June. That program drew 61 applications totaling $138 million in requests against just $19 million in available funding. Concord Municipal Light Plant (CMLP) Director Jason Bulger said most awards went to heating and cooling projects, not solar.

After the grant fell through, CMLP pivoted to a power-purchase agreement with a private developer. Under the arrangement, Solect would finance and build the system, CMLP would buy the electricity and the district would avoid upfront costs. The Ellen Garrison Building was designed as net-zero-ready, with its roof built to accommodate solar panels.

Earlier plans included parking lot canopies and battery storage. Those were dropped because of costs and complications tied to exporting excess electricity to the grid.

Superintendent Laurie Hunter said she will bring updates back to the committee as district officials and legal counsel work through the contract with CMLP and Solect. No vote is expected until those 18 questions are resolved.

The next Concord School Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. at the CMS Library/Media Center.