New Solar Panel To Be Installed At College Hill Recreation Center
A new $500,000 solar energy system will be installed at Cincinnati's College Hill Recreation Center -- at no cost to the City.
The solar panels will generate 154 kilowatts (kW) of energy and are being paid for by the Sun Team. The City will agree to purchase energy generated from the system at rates that start out equivalent to current energy prices, and remain low and fixed for 20 years.
"We continue to green Cincinnati," Mayor Mark Mallory said. "This project is another statement of our commitment to a Green Cincinnati and clean energy future. The new solar panel system will save the City money on energy costs, reduce pollution and create jobs by constructing new infrastructure."
Tuesday's announcement is the first phase of a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA) that the City is signing with the Sun Team, a partnership between Solar Power and Light, LLC, Dovetail Solar, and Tremco Roofing & Building Maintenance.
Neil Chaudhry, CEO of SOLAR POWER & LIGHT said, "SP&L is dedicated to bringing clean energy jobs, new technologies, and innovations to Ohio while helping to protect the environment and achieve energy independence. We are thrilled with the opportunity to bring this project to the City of Cincinnati. This renewable energy project will create energy savings for the city's taxpayers and support solar jobs in Ohio."
The SPPA envisions additional projects over the next three years that would bring the system size to more than 2 megawatts (mW) and the total investment to $8 million -- all at no cost to the city.
"Dovetail Solar & Wind is delighted to see the City of Cincinnati take a leadership position in solar energy. This two-year project will benefit the citizens of Cincinnati as they are able to lock in energy savings over the next 20 years. It is wonderful to be able to continue to bring green jobs to the area while lowering the City’s carbon footprint," said Al Frasz, President of Dovetail Solar and Wind. "This commitment to install 2MW by the City will enable Dovetail Solar and Wind to firm up our plans to open our new LEED facility in Cincinnati as well as hire additional employees."
The installation of a solar energy system at the College Hill Recreation Center will build on previous successes had by the City with the solar panels on the Duke Energy Convention Center, at Findlay Market, on the Metropolitan Sewer District building, and our largest City, solar system at Water Works, plus the Parks Department’s renewable energy program has installed solar panels at 13 different facilities.
