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Politics & Government

Go Green with Clean Energy Offer Considered

DCS Energy addresses Town Council with solar panel plan.

A free clean energy initiative was introduced to the North Branford Town Council Tuesday night, but council members were overwhelmingly hesitant.

Bob Oberle, the Connecticut representative of DCS Energy, addressed the council last night with the company's plan to install 4kW and 9kW solar panels on town buildings at no cost to the town. The company receives federal stimulus fund money that pays for the project.

The panels can be installed on buildings with composition/asphalt roofs that have southern exposure to the sun and a number of town buildings may qualify, including the , the and libraries, the , , and .

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Oberle sought the council's approval on a company inspection initiative. The company will inspect the roofs and layouts of the buildings to determine whether they are feasible for the solar panels.

A green energy initiative will cut electric costs as the panels will work in tandem with the current energy suppliers, United Illuminating and Wallingford Electric, with $180 per month savings from a 9kW panel and $80 per month savings from a 4kW panel. Annual savings are estimated at $1,200 to $2,000 per meter.

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After Oberle's presentation council members questioned him about snow coverage of the panels during the winter, but Oberle said the snow could be left on the panels to melt.

Council member Donald Fucci noted the faulty roofs on some of the buildings would be a problem and the additional weight of the solar panels could cause further damage to the roofs. Council member Rosa Marie Angeloni said the cost of structural engineers to inspect the roofs might be prohibitive. 

Oberle noted that ground mounts instead of roof installation can be used, but that adds an additional cost to the town of $1,500 for each mount.

A number of other Connecticut towns --including Lebanon, East Hampton, Salem and Glastonbury-- have signed up for the program, with Lebanon First Selectman Joyce Okonuk praising it.

The town is evaluating the program but hasn't agreed to inspections yet. The town can sign contracts after the inspections are completed and order solar panels on a building by building basis. The panels will be installed three to six months after the contacts are signed, Oberle said.

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