City reports solar program outperforming initial projections; estimates $1.78M annual savings

In the city management report at the Aug. 12 Lebanon City Council meeting, staff said the municipal solar arrays are performing ahead of initial conservative projections. Council was told the original pro forma forecast estimated annual savings of about $924,000; current projections for 2025 show approximately $1,783,000 in annual savings — roughly double the earlier conservatively estimated figure. Officials said the estimate is an annual projection based on year-to-date performance and that it improves the expected return on investment for the solar installations. Council members discussed the result as a positive budgetary development and noted that the projected savings shorten the payback period. No additional appropriation or programmatic action was proposed at the meeting; staff indicated the figure is a performance projection for 2025 and that final-year accounting will be subject to regular financial review. The city manager’s remarks also included discussion of possible solar canopies at the museum and other community facilities as a long-range idea; council members expressed interest but did not direct staff to begin a specific project during the meeting.