This is the season of lights and at Wilton Library the sentiment really rings true with the installation of new solar panels taking place on the library’s rooftop. The library is embracing solar technology with a new photovoltaic system that will create electricity for its lighting, heating and air conditioning, and computers – all the essentials in the backbone operations of the library.
According to Rich Hubli, building operations manager for the library, “This project has been in the works for a while and the economics, timing, the investors, and the technology have all come together for us to be able to put this in place.”
Wilton Library researched the solar opportunity, conducted a Request for Proposal (RFP) process, analyzed proposals from five installer/investors and awarded the project to Northeast Smart Energy and Soldel LLC. Northeast Smart Energy, with offices in Hartford and Ridgefield, has worked with non-profits the size of the library and has extensive experience constructing this type of installation. Financing for the project is through a Power Purchasing Agreement with Soldel LLC, a private firm based in Norwalk. Research done for the system was independent of the school system’s recent solar projects.
Rob Sanders, an award-winning architect and vice president of Wilton Library Association’s Board of Trustees, who was instrumental in defining the scope of the project, said, “This project is something we’ve all wanted for the library. With an expansive flat roof, it was natural for WLA to employ a solar array for cost savings and reducing our energy footprint. Thanks to the state’s C-Pace program, the library does not incur up-front expenses for this project. The investor (Soldel) purchases and installs the system, which generates electricity that is sold to the library at a discounted price. The system will generate energy savings for decades to come.”
Elaine Tai-Lauria, the library’s executive director, noted, “We’ve had solar on our wish list for quite some time. With the introduction of new technology and the type of installation we’re doing, the new solar panels will provide about 25% of the electricity that the library consumes each year.”
The project has begun with the delivery of all the materials last week. At approximately 11,000 square feet of total area, the 408 solar panels comprise about 20% of a football field collecting the sun’s rays. The installation will take place over the next three to four weeks, depending upon weather. There will be no disruption of library service or hours while the work takes place on the rooftop. The total system should be fully operational by March 2018.
Once online, the library will pay $0.059/kWh for electricity generated for the next 20 years, compared to a range of $0.16 to $0.18/kWh. The library expects to realize about $300,000 in savings on electricity over the term of the agreement, which is renewable for two additional 5-year periods. The library’s new array will conform to the State’s “green” guidelines and help Wilton meet its pledge to reduce town-wide energy consumption, providing an environmental benefit equal to 92 acres of CO2-absorbing forest annually.
Tai-Lauria continued, “We’re also planning an educational component to our new technology with a kiosk that explains what the library is doing, and providing statistics on the energy generated and the savings being realized. After all, we are in the business of sharing information and bringing new ideas to the community.”
For more information about the library’s project, contact Rich Hubli, rhubli@wiltonlibrary.org