Solar panels to be installed at county garage in Arthur
Project would pay for itself in a decade or so: officials
GUELPH – Wellington County is spending a portion of $825,000 in “project savings” from the construction of the Arthur public works garage on solar panels to help power the garage’s electric boilers.
Solar panels are expected to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, according to the county, meaning the Arthur garage could be a net-zero emission building.
Construction of the garage, opened around a year ago, has been pegged at just over $13.1 million. The overall project has cost taxpayers $15.82 million of the $16.8 million Wellington County council approved to be spent.
Furnishings and equipment came under budget by $105,000, but it’s an unused $1 million contingency that largely accounts for the garage coming in $959,629 under budget.
A May report states there are “humidification issues” with the building estimated to cost $100,000 to $125,000, leaving the county with $825,000 unspent in the budget.
Council approved a staff recommendation at a May 28 meeting to spend within the remaining budget to install solar panels.
Solar panels are being explored at a proposed Erin garage, which has a similar design.
In Erin panels are expected to cost $385,000 in construction alone. According to a report to the county’s road committee, the project at the Erin garage would pay itself back in around 10.5 years.
The county is applying the same assumptions to the Arthur garage.
