The city celebrated the installation of the solar energy system on Dec. 6.
The City of Medford recently collaborated with Solect Energy, a commercial-scale developer and installer of solar energy systems in Massachusetts, and PowerOptions, the region’s largest energy buying consortium, to install a 235-kilowatt solar energy system on the roof of the city’s new Department of Public Works building at 21 James St.
The array consists of 588 solar photovoltaic panels, which are projected to produce approximately 300,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually. Medford anticipates the array will generate nearly 100 percent of the DPW’s annual demand for electricity, for a projected first-year savings of $11,000.
“The city has been making strides towards our mission of fiscal and environmental stewardship,” said Mayor Stephanie M. Burke. “We are pleased to make these investments in and commitments to our community and remain dedicated to expanding our goal to be carbon neutral by 2050.”
The city was able to install the solar array with no upfront costs through the Solect Energy and PowerOptions Solar Program. Under the program, Solect Energy financed, installed and will service the roof-top solar array, while the DPW receives the power generated at a fixed price for 20 years under a Power Purchase Agreement negotiated with PowerOptions.
“At PowerOptions, our mission is to help communities save time and money on energy, so more resources can be directed toward serving the public,” said PowerOptions President and CEO Cynthia Arcate. “We applaud the city of Medford’s forward-thinking approach to energy and resiliency.”
Medford is committed to a region-wide effort toward carbon neutrality by 2050 as part of the Boston Metro Mayors Coalition. In that effort, the city plans to reduce its carbon footprint under Burke’s leadership and with the blessing of the City Council, which unanimously supported the solar initiative last summer.
“Installing solar was always a part of the plan at the new DPW building, as it was constructed to be solar ready,” said Alicia Hunt, director of Energy and Environment for the City of Medford. “Our partnership with PowerOptions was instrumental in executing projects and we are actively pursuing solar on other municipal buildings as well.”
In addition to the solar array, the new energy-efficient DPW building will be outfitted with an energy storage solution and a fully functional micro-grid funded by a Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources grant of $700,000.
“Solect commends the city of Medford for their renewable energy and resiliency initiatives,” said Matt Shortsleeve, vice president of development at Solect Energy. “We are proud to play a role in this project and more broadly the City of Medford’s transition to clean and resilient operations.”
