Energy Commission Chairman

Amped Up About Photovoltaics

By John Voket

Sustainable Energy Commission Chairman Dan Holmes believes all Newtown needs is one successful photovoltaic project, presumably at a school or other municipal facility. A field of revenue-generating solar panels would convince taxpayers that investing in a sustainable energy while protecting the planet is just good planning.

His idea involved his volunteer panel doing or commissioning the necessary research targeting the most economical sustainable energy projects in town. Then the commissioners would go after grants to offset project costs, in some cases using matching funds earmarked exclusively for that purpose in its budget.

It was similar to the way the town successfully began acquiring open space through an appointed committee working with the Land Use Department, with a goal of strategically minimizing further development of residential homes or subdivisions. First Selectman Pat Llodra successfully promoted the initiative to request a new round of open space funding be moved up, if possible, in Newtown’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Armed with a budget proposal admittedly laden with ideas that required capital-level investment, Mr Holmes and committee member Desiree Galassi nonetheless planned to request a $1 million budget before the Board of Selectmen January 24. Mr Holmes said before the meeting, however, that even $50,000 to $100,000 could go far towards paying itself back in savings from one or more of the commission’s proposed solar energy projects on the drawing board.

But citing its first-year status and their commitment to hold the line on funding new programs, the selectmen granted the commission a budget of just $5,000, with the directive to use it for any administrative costs the group may face. And Selectman William Furrier further expressed opposition to funding photovoltaic projects.

He told the commissioners that while solar panels may pay for themselves in five to ten years, for the investment made by Newtown, adding state or federal taxpayer-funded subsidies tied to the projects made photovoltaics too costly.

Calling the proposal a “poor use of taxpayer dollars,” Mr Furrier also blamed the technology, saying the operational expectancy of solar panels was still too short to make them a worthwhile public investment. He added that in considering any energy commission requests, “We have to be responsible to state [taxpayers].”

But many companies and academic websites citing photovoltaic (PV) lifespan expectations say most systems are warranted for 20-plus years, and some say the panels can continue to generate electricity for 30 to 40 years.

One post from the Energy Center of Wisconsin made the following claim: A PV system should operate for 40 years or more without significant additional costs. Over that 40-year life, the cost of the PV power is roughly 15 cents per kWh (if an $8,000 1-kW PV system operates for 40 years, generating 1,250 kWh per year valued at $0.1 per kWh).

Long-Term Investing

Mr Holmes and the commission plan to continue advocating for at least one substantial solar project in the near future. His concern is that while grants Newtown might need to match are publicly funded, there is only $750,000 available for the entire state in the latest round of grants.

“If Newtown doesn’t go for the money, it’s going to some other town in Connecticut, end of story,” Mr Holmes said. “Now is the time to invest for the long-term.”

The energy commission chairman also thinks Newtown can be at the forefront of energy conservation, and believes such initiative would help attract new progressive economic development to the community.

“There’s no reason why Newtown can’t be a mecca for energy-related work,” he said. “Sure it’s about reducing our carbon footprint, but leaving that off the table, it’s about job creation.”

The Newtown Sustainable Energy Commission plans to move forward with other initiatives, some continuations of programs already started, and others new.

Ms Galassi, a spokesperson for the commission, said in recent months, the commission has been working alongside other town boards and commissions to facilitate projects such as replacing the streetlights at Fairfield Hills and Reed School with energy-efficient LED (light emitting diode) bulbs.

The town received $40,000 of Federal Stimulus Plan money, the amount of money needed to make this transition, and in turn Newtown will save $7,000 annually in electricity. The commission also worked hand-in-hand with the Public Works Department to select a new electricity provider.

According to Public Works Director Fred Hurley, this switch in providers is saving the town $190,000 annually. This savings helped offset the increase in delivery for a net savings of $90,000 to $100,000, according to Ms Galassi.

The commission supports the state’s Clean Energy Options Program. In this program funded by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, for every 100 residents that sign up, Newtown receives a 1KwH solar panel for use on municipal buildings.

Newtown has already earned the equivalent of a 5KwH system installed on Reed Intermediate School in October 2009 and has been harvesting the sun to make free energy for Reed School. Information and charts on how Newtown fares against other towns can be found on www.ctcleanenergy.com under “Your Community.”

The website also provides information for residential systems.

Currently, the commission is renewing this initiative with a new community challenge called “Strive for Five” or 500 households and businesses signed up by March in the Clean Energy Program. Currently, 267 households have signed up, Ms Galassi noted.

She said the program is aimed at driving down the cost of providing renewable energy.

Clean energy reduces dependency on coal, a resource used to generate electricity, Ms Galassi said. But renewable energy like hydro and wind have two significant benefits — they generate free electricity and do not contribute to the toxification of the environment, she said.

Through the end of the program, sign-up booths and information will be set up in locations around town, including the Newtown Municipal Center at Fairfield Hills. Residents can also access information at www.gogreennewtown.com.

Residents are also invited to contact Mr Holmes and Ms Galassi, or fellow commissioners, James Smith, Ted Kreinik, Benjamin Roberts, Kathleen Quinn, and Sarah Hemingway.

The Sustainable Energy Commission meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm at the municipal center, and welcomes the community to attend. There is also one current vacancy on the panel for an unaffiliated voter.