Dave Faulkner, economic development director for the village, said the agreement will allow Dovetail to install a roughly 60 kw solar array at the village’s well field near the intersection of South High Street and Helltown Road. The solar array will be built on the ground near the well field and will include about 9,500 square feet of space.
SP&L will pay the entire cost to build and maintain the solar panels for 15 years, and there will be no cost to the village.
Now, the village purchases all the electricity to operate the well field from DP&L, but once the project is complete, they will receive half their power for the well field from the solar panels. The village is expected to save money because SP&L will offer their electricity to the village at a discounted rate, said B. Allen Boyd, chief operating officer at SP&L. At the end of the agreement, the village will have the option enter into a new agreement or purchase the solar array. In that case, the village would be able to provide its own energy.
“That’s one of the major advantages of solar, is you’re going energy independent,” said Neil Chaudhry, chief executive officer at SP&L. You’re freeing yourself from the grid.”
Siobhan Pritchard, regional manager of southwest Ohio for Dovetail, said the solar project should be completed in February or March next year. Dovetail has completed other projects locally, including installing solar panels on a building for Twenty First Century Energy in Fairborn.
Ideally, Faulkner said the project will be an initial step to encourage additional green energy businesses to consider locating to St. Paris. In the meantime, the village will benefit from a reduced rate on the energy it receives from the solar panels.
Boyd said similar power purchase agreements for renewable energy are up and running in school systems, factories and non-profit organizations.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.
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