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Mayor McCoy Announces Installation of Solar Panels on Public Buildings 4.12.11

Mayor Jason L. McCoy today has announced the installation of solar panels on five town buildings: the Town Hall Annex building, the Vernon Public Safety Building, the Vernon Police Department, the Public Works Garage, and Center 375. The panels, fully subsidized by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, are being installed at no cost to the Town of Vernon. The program is a result of a contract that the Town made with DataComm Services LLC and DCS Energy of South Glastonbury, Connecticut several months ago.

“All of the panels have been installed on the roofs of the buildings,” Mayor McCoy said. “The next step in the process is to install the hookups to the electrical system in each building. At this point in time, the panels have been hooked-up at Building 375 and the Public Works Garage. We are expecting the Police Department to be completed today and the remaining two buildings by the end of the week.”

The panels are expected to help further the initiative begun by Mayor McCoy in 2007 to increase energy efficiency, decrease fossil fuel dependency, and save taxpayers money by providing the town low cost solutions to cheaper, more efficient energy alternatives.

“This program will allow for the Town to further invest in energy efficient solutions aimed at improving the status quo,” Mayor McCoy said. “When I was elected for my first term in 2007, I ran on a promise to save the taxpayers money and to increase energy efficiency by reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and investing in new, clean energy – With programs such as this one, we have done just that.”

“The installation of these solar panels has been done at virtually no cost to the taxpayers and will provide both short term and long term benefits for the Town, including improved electricity and greater energy efficiency,” Mayor McCoy said. “Overall, the Town will reap savings as a result of these panels, as they have created the potential for the Town to save up to $15,000.00 in annual savings on energy costs. Furthermore, the program has allowed for our Town to continue to invest in “green energy” and continue to help advance the Town’s energy technology into the twenty-first century.”

Installation of the panels began last Monday by DCS Energy’s subcontractor, Mr. Electric Corporation. The purchase price for each panel is $75,000.00, however, through the federal program which placed several town buildings under a five year lease, the town did not have to make a down-payment nor does it have to make lease payments. Upon completion of the leasing term, the Town will own the panels for a price of $1.00 per panel. Should the panels not work to expected capacity or produce inefficiencies, they will be removed by the contractor at no cost to the Town.

Participating in a roundtable discussion with approximately 30 representatives from local government agencies and nonprofits in the Keene area on June 6 to talk about alternative energy.