Wellesley Approves Tax Consulting Contract for Three Municipal Solar Projects

WELLESLEY — June 29, 2026 — Wellesley Climate Action Committee unanimously approves a contingency-fee tax consulting contract for three municipal rooftop solar projects. The committee voted 5-0 at its June 29 remote meeting to engage Walker Blue, a firm combining engineers, accountants, and legal specialists, to file for federal elective pay — a direct cash mechanism available to tax-exempt municipalities in lieu of a traditional Investment Tax Credit — for solar arrays at Hardy School, Hunnewell School, and the town's Recycling and Disposal Facility. Sustainability Director Marybeth Martello told the committee that Walker Blue's contract was selected after two rounds of competitive solicitation and that the firm will be paid only if and when the town receives a federal direct payment. Martello noted that recent federal legislation known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill" has added new foreign-entity sourcing restrictions to the process, making the advisory engagement essential to a pending Permanent Building Committee decision on whether to purchase domestic or overseas solar panels.