Archive: Around Town

More than a year after the Lansing Highway Department's solar panels went on line, they have been generating power quietly and efficiently for the facility.  Installed with the help of a $129,000 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant, the Town turned on the panels on December 15, 2006 with high hopes for saving on electric bills and for the system paying for itself in a short time.  "Originally it was 15 years," says Highway Superintendent Jack French.  "Then it was down to 10 years.  And when the solar panels went online they figured it would be six or seven, because the price of electricity keeps going up."


While town officials know the solar panels have contributed to energy savings, but it may be too early to know just how much the system has saved.  We have recognized savings in our utility bills," says Town Bookeeper and Personnel Officer Sharon Bowman.  "But we've not done an analysis.  It's something we have discussed, but we haven't actually sat down to do it."

"It's hard to really tell, because of the different weather patterns that we've had this past year," says French.  "Our bills have definitely been quite a bit less, but whether it's because of the solar panels, or because of the weather -- I think you have to go three or four years before you really know.  It's encouraging, anyways."


Bowman says other factors have also impacted the Town's bill as well.  "The other thing that has factored in is that we entered into an agreement with NYSEG Solutions," she says.  "That has had an impact on our utility bills."

The solar panels are capable of producing 21.6 megawatts per year that is used strictly to power Highway Department buildings.  Because it is operated by a municipality the Town can not sell power back to the grid, so the system doesn't store electricity, but rather uses it as it is gathered.  On cloudy days, and nights the facility is powered by the electric company.  And days when snow covers the panels.  "We just wait for the snow to melt," French says.  "Once the snow adheres to it, it is frozen on.  We'd rather not break them.  There are days when snow stays on them all day long so it doesn't collect any energy."

French says that the panels have required no maintenance in the 14+ months they have been turned on.  "There's absolutely none," French says.  "When the weather gets a little warmer I'll send a couple of guys up to make sure things remain tight."


The Town plans to analyze its bills at some point in the future to see exactly how the solar panels have cut the amount of electricity that must be purchased.  Itemized bills will provide the data along with statistics gathered from a monitor that connects the system to a computer in French's office.  The Town also hopes to connect the monitor to a Web site where anyone can see how much electricity the panels are producing in real time.

But for now the jury is still out.  While Town officials are confident that the system will pay for itself quickly and save some money on electricity bills, it is not clear how worthwhile it would be for other municipalities, or eventually for the Town Hall.  "I guess we'd have to wait and see," French says.  "It might be, if you get a grant like we did."

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