The Pennsylvania Solar Center has announced a Request for Proposals from certified solar developers for its Galvanizing our Energy Transition (G.E.T.) Solar Program on behalf of 11 Allegheny County municipalities and Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority  in partnership with CONNECT.

Now in its fourth year, G.E.T. Solar provides free technical assistance and financial guidance to entities considering flipping the switch to solar, this time around for CONNECT-affiliated municipalities and authorities.

The PA Solar Center and its CONNECT partners will consider proposals from qualified solar companies between now and September 11, 2023, that will provide the entities with additional information so that they can decide whether or not to go solar.

This unprecedented proposal approach includes 7 megawatts of solar capacity potential on 37 municipal facilities.

CONNECT is short for “The Congress of Neighboring Communities,” a nonpartisan initiative that convenes neighboring municipalities which share borders, challenges, and opportunities in Allegheny County.

CONNECT-affiliated municipalities and authorities that chose to participate in this round of G.E.T. Solar, through G.E.T. Solar CONNECT 2023, include Bellevue Borough, Ben Avon Borough, Carnegie Borough, Castle Shannon Borough, Churchill Borough, Etna Borough, Mt. Lebanon Municipality, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, Ross Township, Scott Township, Swissvale Borough, West Mifflin Borough, and Whitehall Borough.

“Through our G.E.T. Solar program organizations in CONNECT communities have been exploring the financial and environmental benefits of going solar, and now many are ready for the next step – getting concrete quotes from properly accredited solar developers,” said Leo Kowalski, Program Director at the PA Solar Center. “We’re looking for companies who will help these governments and authorities reduce their monthly electric bills; create stable, predictable electricity pricing for them over the long-term; and demonstrate local leadership in sustainability efforts.”

“In Western Pennsylvania, our communities have always demonstrated a remarkable resilience in the face of challenges,” said Andrew R. Flynn, Commissioner of Mt. Lebanon’s Ward 5. “With this initiative we seek to continue to harness this spirit and channel it towards a more sustainable and secure future for our region. By working across municipal boundaries and adopting solar power for our local government facilities, we endeavor to bolster our resilience against fluctuating energy prices and environmental uncertainties. This collaborative effort not only empowers each community to have a direct influence on its own energy destiny but also safeguards our region's economic stability and natural beauty.”

“The Borough of Etna is excited for this opportunity,” said Mary Ellen Ramage, Borough Manager. “It can help us advance our Climate Action Plans and commitment to providing a healthier environment for our residents, businesses, and visitors at our very own facilities, while at the same time helping us to reduce energy costs, not only for today but for the future.”

The latest RFP cycle comes at an opportune time, allowing applicants to explore the many benefits that the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has to offer.

The IRA has dramatically reduced the cost of going solar by reinstating and expanding the solar tax credit to 30 percent until 2032, with additional tax credits for low-income and energy communities.

Many clients from past G.E.T. Solar programs realize significant savings almost immediately.

If all of these municipal and authority projects are able to move forward, it would represent more than an estimated $17.5 million in electricity savings over the next 25 years.

Developers responding to this RFP should have demonstrated experience designing, planning, permitting, constructing, maintaining and financing solar electric systems; have the ability and financial resources to offer a Power Purchase Agreement to the site host when applicable or work collaboratively with others to do so; have relationships with/knowledge of local utilities and interconnection procedures; and meet other requirements outlined in the RFP.

Developer Screening

Interested developers will need to undergo a short screening process to receive the RFP and can express interest by sending a message to leo@pasolarcenter.org.

More and more Pennsylvania businesses and organizations are choosing to go solar. These investments tend to pay for themselves relatively quickly and then achieve impressive cost savings down the road.

Renewable energy also creates stable and predictable energy prices. Once the equipment is paid for, the energy from the sun or wind is free, so the cost of the electricity is known for the life of the equipment which is 25 years or more.

Entities that go solar wisely recognize that an investment in renewable energy is also an investment in their local communities.

Pennsylvania renewable energy projects have created almost 10,000 jobs spanning the entire supply chain since 2004, from technicians and engineers to salespeople, construction workers, and manufacturers.

And according to the Finding Pennsylvania Solar Future Project, increasing the solar portion of the state’s electricity mix from the current 0.5 percent goal to 10 percent by 2030 would create upwards of 100,000 jobs and result in a net economic benefit of $1.6 billion annually.

The current 0.5 percent goal flat-lined on May 31st of 2021, but if the state’s General Assembly would increase it, they would diversify our energy mix that will help to stabilize rising electricity costs that we have seen in the past couple of years.

The Pennsylvania Solar Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit effort to raise the awareness of the benefits of solar energy in Pennsylvania. Click Here to sign up for regular updates.

NewsClips:

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Clean Air And A Healthy Climate Can Be Pennsylvania Future - By Vanessa Lynch, Moms Clean Air Force

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Key Role Of Institutions In Clean Power [University of Pittsburgh Solar Energy Project]

Related Articles:

-- PA Solar Center To Honor 10 Organizations For Their Solar Energy Leadership In Chester County On Sept. 28  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center Issues RFP For Solar Developers To Assist 11 Allegheny County Municipalities, Pittsburgh Water Authority Connect To Solar Energy  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 28, 2023]

9/4/2023