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Council approves solar array for wastewater plant with DOE grant; staff to seek extended inverter warranty
Summary
The Watertown Common Council approved a contract with Eagle Point Solar for a solar array at the wastewater treatment complex, citing a Department of Energy grant (up to $300,000), an expected 7–8 year payback and further work to secure extended inverter warranties.
The Watertown Common Council on Jan. 21 approved a contract award to Eagle Point Solar to install a photovoltaic array at the city’s wastewater treatment facility, a project staff said is partly funded by a Department of Energy grant and intended to offset electricity used by planned biosolids-drying equipment.
Public Works staff described the project history and financial case. “They awarded us funding up to $300,000,” Peter, a Public Works staff member, said of the Department of Energy grant toward the array. He told the council the array is intended to supply onsite electricity, primarily to run a biosolids dryer, and that panels carry a 25-year warranty while inverters currently have a five-year warranty the city is seeking to extend.
Why it matters: The installation is intended to reduce operating electricity costs at a facility that pays roughly $25,000–$30,000 per month in power, staff said, and to help enable a dryer that could reduce biosolids disposal costs. Council debate focused on the warranty term for inverters, long-term replacement costs and whether the projected savings will be sufficient to finance future capital replacement without additional grants.
Key details provided by staff included a preliminary payback estimate of about seven to eight years after incentives, a 25-year panel performance warranty, an installation/workmanship warranty of roughly 15 years, and staff plans to request an extended inverter warranty (to about 15 years) and return to Public Works if warranty cost increases affect the award.
Councilmembers asked whether the city will be able to sell dried biosolids; staff said producing a Class A exceptional quality biosolid could make selling possible, though additional equipment (bagging, marketing) would be required. Staff also confirmed that the solar electricity will be consumed onsite and not exported, and that the project fits into the utility’s 15–20-year equipment planning horizon.
The motion to award the contract was moved by Board and seconded by Bartz; the council approved the award 8–1. Staff listed follow-up steps including negotiating extended inverter warranty terms and scheduling site work. Staff said further operational impacts and warranty costs will be reported back to the Public Works Commission.
Ending: With the grant offset and the projected payback, staff presented the project as a long-term capital investment. Councilmembers who voted against the award expressed reservations about replacement costs at the end of equipment life and the uncertain availability of future grant funding.
