On June 21  the city council is expected to discuss the installation of PV panels installed on  four city buildings, says deputy city manager, Mike Flaherty. The project would be designed, built, maintained and owned by a private firm, Ameresco.

As planned, no Englwood funds will be used for the solar project with Ameresco footing the entire bill estimated at $1.5 million to install the system. The company would receive all available rebates from Xcel Energy as well as state and federal tax credits, which are only available to private companies.

The Xcel rebate will exceed $550,000, although the total value of the tax rebates has not yet been determined.

Ameresco will also be paid  for the electricity generated by the solar panels and used by the city. But, under the agreement, Englewood would pay a lower power rate than it would to buy the power from Xcel Energy.

Project supporters say that over the 30-year life of the system, the savings for Englewood’s electricity bill, which is about $1.3 million a year, are estimated to be around $858,000. The Governor’s Energy Office collaborated with Englewood to launch the energy-efficiency effort in 2008.  A consultant  hired to perform an energy audit of municipal buildings submitted options to improve energy efficiency.  Bids were accepted and Ameresco was selected for the project.

If the proposed contract with Ameresco wins city council approval, solar panels will be installed on the civic center, the police/fire administration building, the Malley Senior Recreation Center and the ServiCenter.