School Committee backs $5.9M heat pump plan
Hadley School Committee recommended a $5.9 million air source heat pump system for Hopkins Academy over costlier geothermal and fossil-fuel alternatives.
School Committee · Meeting of August 31, 2026
Hadley School Committee recommended a $5.9 million air source heat pump system for Hopkins Academy over costlier geothermal and fossil-fuel alternatives. Superintendent of Schools Anne McKenzie and energy consultant TRAIN compared three HVAC options, with members voting unanimously to pair the heat pumps with a separate $1.4 million solar proposal carrying a 30 percent federal tax credit that expires if installation isn't complete by December 31, 2027. Member Tara Brugger pressed for cost details on deferred locker-room and kitchen heating work, while a TRAIN representative said "those spaces I think will be fine remaining on steam in the short term." The committee also approved its fiscal year 2027 capital plan, carrying a separate $2.6 million town capital request, and adopted a new Protect Act policy on immigration enforcement in schools ahead of a September 1 state deadline.
The heat pump and solar recommendation heads to a joint Select Board and Finance Committee meeting September 16.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,476 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of August 31, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.
Members read the rest of this story and every Hadley meeting we cover, in full.
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