EVANSVILLE — The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility has approved funding to place solar panels on 17 city-owned buildings using interest dollars from its debt reserve fund.
The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Board approved all 17 locations and vendors during a public hearing on July 4. EWSU was closed for the holiday that day, but the board meeting and public hearing were still both held. No members of the public were there to speak on the proposal.
EWSU received five proposals for the project, and ultimately four of the contractors were selected totaling over $6 million. The majority of the locations will feature rooftop solar, but Mesker Park Zoo’s Amazonia will be powered by a solar array installed over on a structure that will loom above part of the parking lot, officials said.
The city will pay back the utility for its costs, and EWSU will also take advantage of the federal Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit that will reimburse 50-to-60% of the project cost.
According to a news release from the city, the solar project is expected to reduce the facilities’ $1.6 million collective annual electricity costs by upwards of 35% for the 25-year lifespan of the systems.
Where are the locations of the solar, and who won the bids?
How will the city pay the utility back for the project?
City controller Robert Gunter said the hope is to pay the debt from the savings the city nets each month in electricity bills.
“Rather than paying CenterPoint, we’re paying the water and sewer utility back,” Gunter said.
The city has up to six years to pay the total amount back.
City council to receive update on the project Monday
A project update is on the agenda for Evansville City Council at its Monday night meeting. The meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. in Room 301 of the Civic Center.
Lauren Lynch, director of the Evansville Climate Collaborative, will give the update. Lynch stated in the city’s news release Thursday that facility energy use contributes 78% of the community’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The solar project hits on areas of the city’s climate action plan, as well as a the city council’s 2019 resolution to transition Evansville’s operations to renewable energy by 2050.
“This project is an important step forward, but lasting progress depends on all of us,” Lynch stated. “By combining these investments with the actions of homeowners and businesses, we can make a meaningful difference and create cleaner communities for future generations.”
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Here’s which Evansville-owned buildings are set to get solar panels
Reporting by Sarah Loesch, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sarah Loesch, Evansville Courier & Press | USA TODAY Network
