Solar panels approved

The city of Portland won't have to shell out as much money for heat this winter.

Members of the Portland Board of Works have voted to add solar collection panels to Portland City Hall and the Portland Fire Station.

The panels and storage tanks will be installed by Solartech at a cost of $24,734 for the fire station and $23,373 for city hall. Board members approved the contracts this morning.

The collection panels are expected to reduce the city's heating costs, as well as heat the water at both the fire station and city hall.

Don Crawmer, director of sales for Solartech, said the panels and storage tank should not require any maintenance.

"We think this is a good opportunity for taxpayers," Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said during the meeting. Hosier is hoping to qualify for federal stimulus funds to install solar panels on other city buildings.

Crawmer said the cost savings for the city was calculated through special software.

In the next year, the city's heating costs for the fire station are predicted to be reduced by about $4,000 annually. The savings likely will be similar at city hall. The city's investment is expected to be returned in five to seven years, say Crawmer and Hosier.

"I'm very confident that this is an excellent system for us," Hosier said.

Before voting, board member Bill Gibson asked how common the systems are in Jay County. Crawmer said there are about six systems in operation at various industries, hotels, businesses and homes.

The panels are expected to be installed this month, with installation taking seven to 10 days to complete.[[In-content Ad]]