On March 6, the City of Reading announced it is now moving into the construction phase as part of a strategic partnership with Schneider Electric to implement a Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA) project, reinforcing Reading's commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.

This initiative aligns with the city’s ambitious target to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050, a move aimed at substantially reducing the city’s carbon footprint and ensuring energy resilience for its community.

The completion of the project is slated for late 2026.

The GESA project encompasses a comprehensive suite of energy efficiency upgrades to modernize city infrastructure.

This initiative also includes the installation of solar canopies at City Hall, the Public Works building, and the Cedar parking lot, which will both generate energy and protect vehicles.

With over 4,300 solar panels generating more than 1.78 megawatts of power, the project will completely offset electrical consumption of the Public Works building and offset nearly all electric consumption at City Hall.

In addition, the project includes over 3,000 LED light upgrades across 14 sites, improving downtown pedestrian lighting in five key areas to increase safety and security while dramatically improving energy efficiency.

Significant improvements to HVAC systems in four historical fieldhouses located at Pendora, Keffer, Schlegel, and Baer Parks will also be implemented.

City of Reading Mayor Eddie Morán shared his excitement for the project, saying, “We are honored to continue moving our city forward in the most efficient way possible, and this partnership with Schneider Electric represents another important step in that journey. This transformative project brings us closer to our renewable energy goals, while reducing operational costs and enhances the safety and comfort of our community.”

Bethany Ayers-Fisher, Sustainability Manager for the City of Reading, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We are excited to embark on this transformative journey with Schneider Electric. In February, we started the LED upgrades at City Hall. We’re thrilled with the result and looking forward to a significant reduction in our energy cost.”

The initiative complements broader state and federal sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives.

As a GESA project, the majority of funding for the project will come via capital recovery and reinvestment, an innovative financing solution designed to distribute costs efficiently over time.

The total project cost of $17.9 million will be funded in large part via anticipated savings of $13.3 million over two decades, bringing the cost to the City of Reading to $4.6 million.

The project is also supported by a variety of funding mechanisms in addition to GESA, including capital funding, federal 179D rebates, and renewable energy investment tax credits (ITC) supported by the federal Inflation Reduction Act.

The GESA project delivers substantial environmental and community benefits, such as enhanced park and pedestrian lighting for increased safety, improved comfort in municipal facilities, and the adoption of net metering to optimize energy spending.

Additionally, it mitigates the risk of volatile energy prices, providing long term budget stability against energy cost fluctuations.

The project's environmental impact is equally impressive, equating to the removal of 454 cars from the road, supplying energy to 273 households, and planting 84,628 trees annually.

Click Here to watch an in-depth discussion about the project with Building Green on BCTV hosted by Bill Vitale featuring Bethany Ayers-Fisher, Matt Wardecker and Dan Verna.

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[Posted: March 6, 2025]

3/10/2025