New Solar Project Approved for Civic Center
The Common Council on Tuesday, May 26th had lots of resolutions, outdoor dining permits, and a controversial encroachment permit that an important project approval went under the radar. I would like to highlight the new solar project that will begin on the roof of the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Last year, the Common Council approved Centrica Business Solutions to create a solar panel proposal. While the tentative cost was $20,000, they noted that the final cost was $12,000, netting the city some savings. Mitchell Tombs, the Senior Account Executive, presented the proposal to the Quality of Life Committee on April 20th, along with Jeffery Kilmer. If you are curious, I would recommend looking through the presentation, but I will highlight some notable slides.
The Solar Photovoltaic System that will be implemented, according to the overview, is a combination of ballasted and mechanically attached solar arrays spanning the roof. They estimate 559,576 kilowatts per hour in the first year, valued at $63,723 VDER, or Value of Distributed Energy Resources. For more information about this mechanism, visit the New York State Public Service Commission website.
The time crunch of capturing the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s NY-Sun rebate, valued at $133,930, was very important. The Inflation Reduction Act’s solar tax credits are sunsetting this July, so it was imperative to solidify a contract before then. If you want to learn more, read the Department of Energy’s guide.
The TerraGen framing system that will be utilized not only is designed for heavy snow loads but its structure will comply with domestic content requirements for the NY-Sun rebates.
On top of the framing, thousands of SEG Solar Yukon N Series solar cell modules will be installed. They will have a power output of 590 watts, with key features like high module conversation efficiency, super multi busbar technology, and a fifteen-year product workmanship warranty.
In the presentation, there are various financing options. Thanks to input from the Audit and Financial Committee as well as our city controller, Wendy Baird, the city will be utilizing bonds to cover the costs. The year-to-year table offers a glimpse into the estimated utility cost savings as well as cash and tax impacts, culminating with the estimated project cash flow over thirty years.
Once the financials are in place at the end of June prior to the sunsetting of the solar rebates, the project will begin. Centrica Business Solutions and National Grid will be communicating with the city throughout the process. Stay tuned for more updates from the city over the next couple months as Glens Falls becomes a beacon of solar energy generation in the region.
