Warrant Article #10: Solar Panel for Town Electricity
To see if the Town of Dalton will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $87,000.00 for the purpose of installing solar panels on the highway garage or other municipally owned buildings, to be offset by a $82,000 grant and the remainder to be raised through general taxation.” Notes: The electricity generated by the solar panels is projected to offset the total municipal electricity usage, thereby reducing annual town electricity costs to approximately zero with net metering. Select Board recommends this article. (Majority vote required.)
Intent of project:
- Install a solar array to save the town money by reducing electricity costs and keeping energy production local.
- A solar array will offset over 100% of the electricity of the Highway Garage, with excess energy distributed to the Town Hall, Sewer Pump Station, Fire Station, and Transfer Station.
- The array will be located on the roof of the Highway Garage.
- The town has secured a grant to pay for approximately 92% of the project (maximum award $81,834). The Select Board will utilize additional grants as available to reduce this amount.
How much will this save the town?
The project will save approximately $4,696 in year one. The cumulative 25-year savings is projected to be $140,998 (based on calculations at the time of application).
How much will this cost to install?
The Town secured a proposal for the 28-kilowatt array in order to apply for the NH Department of Energy grant. The cost is $84,334, and the town received a grant for up to $81,834.
How will this be paid for?
The project will be funded by a combination of grants and voter approved funds. The town has secured a grant for up to 92% of the total cost, $81,834, from the NH Department of Energy. The warrant article asks taxpayers fund $5,000, which is scheduled to come from current capital reserve funds.
What costs are not covered by the grant and how will those be paid for?
The grant does not cover the cost of connecting the solar array to the existing electrical grid and permitting. The Town will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the solar array and will have the option to enter into an annual operations and maintenance contract.
Will there be extra electricity available to residents of Dalton?
The solar array will generate enough electricity to offset the electricity use of the Highway Garage, Town Hall, Fire Station, Transfer Station, and Sewer Pump Station. There will not be excess electricity available to residents.
Where will it be located?
The proposed project is to be located on the south-facing roof of the Highway Garage but could also be installed on the Fire Department east or west facing roof.
Why is it on the roof of the Highway Garage?
Multiple locations were evaluated, including the Town Hall, Fire Station, and Highway Garage. The roof of the Highway Garage keeps the project cost the lowest and keeps maintenance costs lower than a ground-mounted array.
Is the roof strong enough?
The roof will be assessed and certified by a structural engineer prior to the start of the project.
When will the project be completed?
If the voters approve the project the Select Board hopes to complete the project by the end of 2025 but can extend it into 2026, if necessary..
Warranty periods of equipment? Workmanship?
Workmanship typically carries a 1-year warranty. The solar mounting system may carry up to a 25-year warranty. The inverters typically carry a 10-year warranty. The solar panels typically carry a 25-year performance warranty. The monitoring equipment and software typically carries a 2-year warranty.
How long to the panels last?
The panels usually have an effective warranty of 25 years. These systems are installed worldwide and have a very good track record of lasting over 25 years.
Why now?
The NH Department of Energy provided a grant for municipalities to install solar. The town applied for and received a grant for up to % of the project cost. It is unknown if this funding program will re-open in the future.
The town has secured a grant for up to 92% of the project cost. Are there additional grants available for this project?
At the moment there is a federal program that could provide up to 30% of the total project cost as reimbursement. The Town can apply for reimbursement once the project is complete and operational and will do so if this funding opportunity is available.
How much is the town currently paying for electricity for the buildings that will benefit from the solar array?
2023 combined annual electric costs for Highway Garage, Town Hall, Sewer Pump Station, Fire Station, and Transfer Station was $6,541.31.
What is the status of grant funding given the recent Executive Orders?
The grant is Federal funds made available by the NH Department of Energy (NH DOE). The town is in frequent communication from NH DOE regarding the status of the grant funding. Given that the grant is entirely for physical infrastructure, at this time, NH DOE believes that the impact to the grant will be minimal. NH DOE is currently awaiting guidance from US DOE. The town will not move forward with the project until grant award contracts are executed by Governor & Council and the town has been assured that the grant funding is secure.
