Cornwall residents interested in solar panels ask questions at workshop

CORNWALL — A workshop April 2 on planning for the installation of solar voltaic panels prompted lots of questions for experts by interested residents.

What was most notable was the “undercurrent†of excitement. The town has earned two panels, and is very close to earning a third free panel through the “20 percent by 2010†initiative.

Whatever the final decision is on installation on a town-owned building, Cornwall is about to take the first step toward energy independence.

A leader in clean energy

Some might say the first step was making the commitment. Just over a year ago, the town passed a resolution to join the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund initiative.

Municipal, business and residential customers were asked to sign up to receive half or all of their electricity from alternative sources, such as wind and landfill gases.  Some already had. The numbers have grown since then, to one in every five customers. Tiny Cornwall is leading the way in the state, and possibly the nation.

Last week, Bob Wall and Bob Wassung, of Connecticut Innovations and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, gave a presentation at Cornwall Consolidated School about how they help towns determine where to install panels. (The cost of installation is included in the reward.)

The simple part is that the panels are about 3-by-6 feet. They need to have a good southerly exposure. They are mounted at an angle to match the track of the sun — and that generally keeps them clear of snow, ice, pollen and dust.  There is very little maintenance or future costs.

The rest of the system, the “hidden†part  that turns the sun’s captured energy into electricity, is designed to accommodate additional panels without expansion.

Show it or hide it?

Visibility of the panels is a topic that may be debated.

“Most people want to hide them, but we like to make them visible whenever we can,†Wassung said. “It shows the town has earned them, which is inspiring, and it showcases solar power. It’s something to be proud of.â€

Wassung explained about how he planned to assess town buildings, from basics such as roof strength to a compass device that tracks the sun, simulates the curve of the earth and maps the shady spots to be avoided.

Roofs can be pitched or flat.

Four buildings are under scrutiny: the school, Town Hall, West Cornwall Firehouse and the town garage.

The school has been the site most people have had in mind. The two panels now in hand would meet less than 5 percent of the school’s needs, Wassung said, “but it’s a start.â€

The town is predicting its total electricity costs for the coming budget year for the school and other town buildings at about $60,000.

Blowing the other towns away

Questions were raised about the pending award of a third panel and if the town should wait so all can be installed at once.

“We may decide to wait and award all three at once, or we may go ahead and award the third panel in anticipation,†Wassung said. “There are two towns in Connecticut that have more than 10 percent program participation, and Cornwall is blowing them all away. We are looking to reward towns that are going above and beyond.â€

Murmurs spread through the audience at the news that, with incentives offered by the Clean Energy Fund, the town might be able to take a building as large as the school off the grid for about $14,000 in costs added to the planned installation.

How quickly can the town start saving on energy costs?

Once a determination has been made to install the solar voltaic system and it has been proved that the installation meets town building code, Connecticut Light and Power has to give its approval. Then a final okay has to come from a Clean Energy Fund consultant.

Wassung said it takes about a month to complete the assessment. The town then makes its decision. It typically takes four to 10 weeks for a contractor to start the job once a contract is signed.

“It’s very specialized, and there are more contractors out there,†Wall said, “but they are getting busier all the time. The sooner you get to them the better.â€

In all, from approval to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which the Clean Energy Fund hosts, it can take as little as two to three months.

Information about Cornwall’s progress can be found at ctinnovations.com/communities. To date, 72 of Connecticut’s 169 towns have signed up for the “20 percent by 2010†program.