MARION — Selectmen decided to issue a broad-ranging request for proposals for a solar development project on Benson Brook.

The area previously had a proposal for a solar project there, but the project sank when it ran into an interconnection issue with Eversource. The town also established a solar overlay district that covers Benson Brook.

At their June 18 meeting, Selectmen voted to allow Town Administrator, Jay McGrail, to authorize a representative to the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative as the first non-Cape town in the cooperative.

McGrail had previous experience with it from his time on the Cape, and said that the group’s expertise would allow the town to negotiate for lower energy costs and tackle solar projects.

With the cooperative’s help, McGrail hopes to look at the terms for the overlay district to decide how to craft the request for proposals.

However, Selectmen and McGrail intend to cast a purposely broad net, allowing for a variety of different vendor proposals dictated by the market and leaving it to the town to decide the finances and which plan they like best at at later date.

Selectmen supported McGrail’s thinking on the issue, with Norman Hills commenting, “I like that motion.”