Albany County moves solar credits to DPW electric budget to cover operation and maintenance

The Albany County Legislature approved a 2025 budget amendment to redirect solar credits from a county-owned solar array to the Department of Public Works electric budget to cover the array’s operation and maintenance.

Pat Kearns, presenting the item for county staff, told legislators that the credits come from National Grid tied to the county-owned array in the town of Colonie and that the amendment will place those credits into DPW’s electric line "to cover the cost of the agreement for the operation and maintenance of the solar array." Kearns said the array has been in operation only a few months and staff "have not yet received a full" year of credit data.

The move is intended as a safety net so DPW can pay operation and maintenance (O&M) costs if credits fall short of earlier savings estimates. Legislators noted the county previously estimated about $210,000 in annual energy savings from the array. Kearns said early O&M costs have been in the range of $20,000 to $30,000 for the first months of operation and that credit estimates are expected to increase as the system produces more energy in peak months.

During questions, a legislator asked whether the $2.75 figure shown in the document matched the $210,000 savings estimate in earlier papers; staff said the $2.75 entry is intended to ensure coverage of operation costs in case credits are lower than projected. A staff member said he would follow up with more detailed numbers for the Legislature.

A motion to adopt the budget amendment was made and seconded and the Legislature approved the transfer.

Legislators said they will continue to monitor production, credits and O&M costs as the array operates through peak solar months.