Whitehall Borough near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has officially made the switch to solar energy with the help of nonprofit the Pennsylvania Solar Center’s G.E.T. Solar program. G.E.T. provides free technical assistance and financial guidance to businesses and organizations looking to go solar. After a competitive bid process, Whitehall Borough Council awarded the project to local solar developer Elysium Solar Energy to complete the installation.
Credit: PA Solar Center
The 22.2-kW solar system was installed on the roof of the council building and is estimated to produce about 26,000 kwh/year, which will offset more than 90% of the facility’s annual energy usage. Elysium Solar Energy estimates the system will save the Borough nearly $100,000.00 over the next 25 years.
“Whitehall Borough is thrilled to save taxpayers significant money by making the switch to solar, and to be able to reinvest those savings into strengthening our community,” said Courtney Wertz, Whitehall Borough manager. “Like so many other municipalities and government entities, the borough has been grossly impacted by the rising price of energy, so it is a relief to take power into our own hands and save big with the help of solar.”
“It is our hope that Whitehall Borough will serve as an inspiration to other local municipalities and organizations in flipping the switch to solar,” said Leo Kowalski, director of transformation at the PA Solar Center. “Larger consumers of energy like them can often save thousands to tens of thousands of dollars on their electric bills. Further, there are current tax credits and grant programs in place that can make the transition very favorable to the consumer — but we don’t know how long these programs will be around, so we’re encouraging businesses and tax-exempt organizations to lock them in by going solar as soon as possible.”
Solar energy is the fastest growing energy in the country and is saving businesses, nonprofits, communities and residents thousands of dollars in utility bills. Businesses that go solar are hedging against volatile electricity pricing.
“Due to circumstances out of most people’s control, electricity costs have been extremely volatile over the past several years,” said Kayla Reedy, owner of Elysium Solar Energy. “We congratulate Whitehall Borough for taking action and having the determination to move into the clean energy economy.”
News item from PA Solar Center