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Monona council declines to acquire decommissioned solar panels; Legacy Solar to remove arrays
Summary
Council defeated a motion to acquire used solar panels from Legacy Solar Coop for $10,000, leaving the company to remove and dispose of arrays from the public works garage ahead of an impending roof replacement; staff outlined reuse options but flagged capital, storage and maintenance costs.
The Monona City Council voted down a staff request to acquire used solar panels being removed from the public works garage, leaving the panels to be removed and disposed of by the installer, Legacy Solar Coop.
Neil (City Administrator) summarized three options staff discussed with Legacy Solar: (1) have Legacy remove and dispose of the panels at no cost to the city; (2) acquire the panels for a one‑time $10,000 purchase price and store or redeploy them; or (3) pay roughly $40,000 to have the panels taken down and reinstalled on the public works roof. “If it’s simply a financial evaluation, then option 1 is probably the best,” Neil said, noting a tradeoff between short‑term simplicity and possible longer‑term reuse opportunities.
Neil and Brad (Public Works staff) told council the panels are roughly 12 years old and would total about a 150‑kilowatt array if ground‑mounted at Well 3 (the site discussed as a possible reuse location). Staff said ground‑mount reuse would require additional capital—initial estimates ranged from about $65,000 to $100,000 for mounting and related infrastructure—and that the panels’ remaining useful life and maintenance requirements make payback uncertain. Brad noted panels arrive in 18 pallets and that the city lacks substantial indoor storage; storing the panels would likely mean outdoor tarps and added risk.
Questions from council focused on economics, storage, spare‑parts value and timing. Alder Bernstein and others asked whether the ground mounts could be forward‑compatible for future panels and whether the city could recover cost by selling equipment if the city later decided not to use it. Staff said Legacy has considered salvaging parts for other maintenance needs and that resale value and transport costs are uncertain.
At roll call by voice, the motion to approve acquisition, removal and transfer of the panels failed on a voice vote. The mayor announced, “The motion is denied. Gotcha. K. The motion is defeated, so the panels will come off,” and staff said Legacy Solar would proceed with removal and disposal; staff will continue to evaluate other ways to offset lost renewable generation.
Why it matters: the decision affects the public works garage roof project timeline, the city’s renewable energy portfolio and potential short‑term maintenance support for existing rooftop arrays. Council members and staff said they prefer to wait for full cost and usage data before committing capital to salvage and repurpose older panels.
