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Elon sustainability committee weighs municipal solar options, seeks roof evaluation and financing study
Summary
Presenters from O2 Energy and Southern Energy Management briefed the Town of Elon Sustainability Committee on April 28 about rooftop, ground-mounted and parking-lot solar options; the committee agreed to include a roof evaluation in a future RFP and asked staff to study financing, including revenue bonds.
Joel Olsen of O2 Energy and Paul Safrit of Southern Energy Management presented solar options to the Town of Elon Sustainability Committee on April 28, outlining technical choices and procurement considerations for a municipal program.
Olsen described his experience with local solar projects — including work on the Lovill House Inn and agricultural solar sites — and framed rooftop and ground-mounted systems as a way to reduce municipal energy costs and improve community resilience. Olsen said solar can deliver predictable energy supply and lower operating expenses; in his presentation he stated that "solar is a common-sense way to reduce costs, provide a stable source of power, and a good way to financially focus on sustainability."
Safrit, who identified his experience designing government solar systems, discussed system design and procurement. He told the committee he "could potentially write a request for proposal / request for qualifications for the Town of Elon, as long as he was able to bid on the project," a statement the committee noted as presenting a potential procurement conflict if the author also competes for work.
After questions from committee members about incentives, panel degradation, maintenance and economies of scale, the committee determined that an evaluation of town-owned roofs should be included in any RFP for solar services. Town Manager Rich Roedner said he would research whether a revenue bond is a feasible financing option for a municipal solar project and report back to the committee.
The committee did not adopt a procurement document at the meeting; members directed staff and the presenters to continue research and to prepare findings for a future meeting. The sustainability committee also noted it would consider site types including rooftop systems, ground-mounted arrays and parking-lot canopies as it develops scope and cost estimates.
Next steps: the committee will include a roof evaluation in the scope of a planned RFP, consider procurement rules around consultant authorship and competitive bidding, and await staff research into financing options, including whether revenue bonds are practicable. The committee adjourned at 9:54 a.m.
