Belchertown School Committee Approves Swift River LED Lighting Project Unanimously

BELCHERTOWN -- March 10, 2026, Belchertown School Committee approves Swift River LED lighting project at a net cost of $15,000 per year after a missed deadline cut the financing term. The committee voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with the National Grid-funded upgrade, which had originally been structured as cost-neutral over a five-year, zero-percent-interest loan but was recast at 36 months after the district missed a December 31, 2025 approval deadline. Under the new terms, the district will pay roughly $45,000 per year while saving an estimated $32,000 annually in electricity costs, leaving a $15,000 annual gap over three years. National Grid is providing $114,000 in rebates and incentives, and the fixtures are expected to generate savings for 10 to 15 years. The committee directed facilities staff to ask the town to cover years two and three of the cost through the capital improvement budget, though any such appropriation would require town meeting approval before the project's December 2026 completion deadline.