Berlin Mulling Solar Projects To Save Energy

BERLIN – At the request of local officials, Berlin’s electric department is looking into possible solar options for the town.

As Pocomoke City prepares for the completion of its 10-acre solar array, Councilwoman Lisa Hall suggested Berlin look into solar power. The Pocomoke project, which will be the largest municipally owned solar setup in the state, is expected to reduce the town’s energy costs by close to $40,000 a year.

“I think we’re missing the boat here,” Hall said at Monday’s meeting of the Mayor and Council.

She pointed out that the Pocomoke project would be cutting electricity costs and yet had not cost the town anything, as it had worked in partnership with Standard Solar and SunEdison.

Tim Lawrence, Berlin’s electric utility director, said he was in fact already investigating options available to the town. He said he has heard from a number of solar companies in recent years but had never pursued their offers. Because most larger projects require a 20-year contract, Lawrence said the town’s electric consulting company, Booth and Associates, advised against them.

“We’ve tried to stay away from it because of the length of the contract,”
said Lawrence, adding that the town’s purchase power agreements never exceed three years. “That’s a long time to be under contract.”

During the 20 years of the contract, energy prices can change and equipment can wear out, he explained. With a solar system in particular, he said, the inverters, used to convert DC power to AC power, were likely to degrade long before the contract ended and would need to be replaced.

Lawrence also pointed out that large-scale solar projects required a significant amount of land.

“It’s hard to find 20 acres in Berlin,” he said.

Nevertheless, Lawrence said he was looking into solar options for the town. He believes a smaller-scale project could be successful.

“A smaller system has a shorter contract,” he said.

Even before Hall suggested the idea, Lawrence said he started investigating solar options for the town after noticing the growing number of residences installing solar panels. In the past year and a half, eight such systems have been installed in Berlin.

Lawrence will be meeting with solar companies in the coming weeks and plans to make a presentation to the Mayor and Council in December.