The City of Shelby’s solar energy project, more than two years in the making, is now operational. The city entered into a series of agreements with AEP OnSite Partners, LLC for a 2.5-MW solar array, which is located on 14 acres of property. (Bricker & Eckler represented the city in negotiations with AEP OnSIte.) Cost savings for the city are estimated to be $205,000 in the first year and $3 million over the next 10 years. The solar array contains approximately 6,939 solar panels that are programmed to rotate throughout the day so they are always facing the sun. The project will produce 3,500 megawatt hours per year. Individuals who are interested in tracking the energy produced by the solar array can visit the city’s utility department website to view the projects energy production.
The mayor of Shelby recently touted the benefits of the project for the city. “This renewable energy is not only economically beneficial, but it is environmentally beneficial as well,” said Mayor Steve Schag. “We are truly blessed to be a leader in the area of renewable energy partnerships in north central Ohio. In doing some research, very few municipalities of our size have a solar field of that size within their city limits," Schag said. For the full article, click here.
