Grant Funds Could Bring Solar Power To Water Treatment Site

By Kendra Bobowick

The sun may soon partially power Newtown’s water treatment plant. Public Works Director Fred Hurley is depending on state grant funding to install a solar photovoltaic system, a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into electricity

He said last week that as of Monday, February 28, he would file the grant application with the state’s Clean Energy Fund, seeking as much as $300,000 to build a $466,000 system. The balance of funds for the estimated $466,000 would come from the Water and Sewer Authority.

Making some quick calculations comparing the facility’s annual kilowatt usage, he said energy generated by the sun could save roughly $20,000 of the yearly $90,000 bill to run the water treatment plant. “That’s a real number,” he said, anticipating a “break-even point” in seven years. By then, the town “should be making its money back.”

Going green is “absolutely” the reason that officials have been looking at renewable energy options for several years, Mr Hurley said. “We want to encourage it everywhere in town.”

Suspecting he may have an answer from the Clean Energy Fund in as soon as two weeks, he said that if the town receives the grant award, he hopes to have the onsite distributed generation system up and running by the fall.

Excited that the project “could actually happen if we get the money,” Sustainable Energy Commission Chairman Dan Holmes said, “I’m thrilled.” He is also pleased that officials acted so quickly on a grant opportunity that arose as recently as December.

Water and Sewer Authority Chairman Richard Zang confirmed that grant funds should pay for a large percentage of installation costs. “We would pay the rest,” he said. Reiterating Mr Hurley’s estimate of a seven-year breakeven point, he said, “We can expect a positive cash flow” after that time. Looking ahead at expenses, he said, “You have to balance the long-term with the short.”

Regarding the project, which is a step toward a greener community, he said, “We’re glad to do it; we hope we can do it.” The water treatment plant property does not have enough space for an installation, and would need to use abutting technology park space. He anticipated working with the town to determine where to place solar installations.

Speaking from a broader perspective, Mr Holmes stressed that “the town needs to have money put aside” for clean energy projects. “We need to do something to reduce our emissions long-term to make our town a cleaner and more sustainable community.”