The Concord City Council unanimously approved the construction of a 2 MW solar array at the Hall Street wastewater treatment plant last month, an initiative that provides multiple economic and environmental benefits for our community.
The project will meet nearly 40 percent of the city’s electric bill while generating additional property tax revenue through the use of a renewable resource. It’s a clear win for the city, but a recent column in the Monitor (“Ratepayers, taxpayers will pay the price,” Monitor Forum, April 3) displays a fundamental misunderstanding of the economics and financing of the project and contains several misleading and inaccurate statements.
First, the installation is not funded by a state grant from the state’s Renewable Energy Fund, but rather the cost of construction is borne by the vendor, Solar City. As a result, the project is not “heavily subsidized” through state funds, as the writer wrongly contends. Solar City will take advantage of the renewable energy tax credits that were extended by Congress last year, a wise policy decision with substantial bipartisan support.
Second, the city of Concord is not “robbing Peter to pay Paul,” but instead making a rational purchasing decision that will improve the energy mix available to our community and will result in a more predictable energy cost structure in future years.
Lastly, the city council and city administration is not “playing games” with the electric bills of our residents. On the contrary, the project was carefully and professionally evaluated.
I am confident that the solar project will deliver many benefits to our community for years to come.
ROB WERNER
Concord
(The writer is a Concord city councilor and chairman of the Concord Energy and Environment Committee.)