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Town review finds solar array slightly below target; staff to troubleshoot tracker issue
Summary
The town manager reported the municipal solar array was designed to produce about 100,000 kWh/year but yielded 96,665 kWh; the fire station exceeded its allocation and staff will have electricians inspect a tracker that intermittently fails to tip vertically.
During manager’s report on July 14, staff reviewed the town’s five-year-old solar installation and said it was designed to produce roughly 100,000 kilowatt-hours annually; actual production this year was recorded at about 96,665 kWh. Town staff presented the allocation of generated power: 42% to the municipal building, 31% to the fire station, 20% to public works, 6% to the salt shed, and 1% to hill-road signals. The fire station used about 9,772 kWh in excess of its allocation based on current records.
Staff said one tracker (panel number four) intermittently stops tipping vertically after three to four days and will be inspected by an electrician. There is no existing maintenance contract; the town keeps nine spare panels purchased from the original vendor if replacements are needed. Staff suggested adding panels to the fire-station project could offset the imbalance if costs are reasonable.
Board members asked about prior vendor support; staff said there are no active maintenance contracts and recommended contacting regional installers or the original supplier to troubleshoot and repair the tracker.
