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Maxwell council authorizes RFP to study solar at the water/wastewater site
Summary
Council approved issuing a request for proposals to gather options and costs for installing a solar array at the wastewater/water treatment plant; members discussed third‑party lease models, outright purchase, storage, and the plant's high energy draws from UV disinfection and pumps.
Council authorized staff to release a request for proposals seeking plans and pricing for a solar array at the city's wastewater and water treatment plant.
Council members emphasized two distinct models: third‑party developers who install, operate and possibly lease site capacity back to the city in exchange for a modest utility discount; or the city purchasing equipment outright and retaining all energy savings (and maintenance obligations). Staff noted the wastewater plant is the municipality's largest energy user over recent years, driven primarily by UV disinfection lights and motors that run year‑round.
One staff member summarized four years of electricity costs for the wastewater facility (noting a total on the order of the hundreds of thousands over several years) and said an RFP would require proposers to specify offsets, battery/storage options, site acreage needs and whether they would offer a purchase option after an initial contract term. The council voted to approve issuing the RFP to collect comparative proposals.
Next steps: The RFP will solicit proposals that include financing structures, estimated energy offsets, and options to buy out equipment; staff will report back with proposals and recommended next steps to the council.
