The city board of commissioners unanimously approved a letter of intent Tuesday night that will allow a Charlotte-based firm to move forward with the project.
An entity known as O2Energies is proposing to lease two sites totaling roughly six acres near the sewage-treatment facility located off U.S. 52 at the southernmost boundary of the city limits.
Plans call for a 1-megawatt facility at the site, according to Joel Olsen, managing director of the company. “This would generate enough power to offset the consumption of roughly 200 households,” Olsen told board members in explaining the electrical production to be realized.
Information presented Tuesday night shows that O2Energies has planned, designed and installed more than 70 solar energy systems of different types. It has formed a “strategic partnership” with Pike Electric Inc. in Mount Airy to help make the local effort a reality. Pike has been branching out into alternative energy systems in addition to its traditional focus on electricity, based on Tuesday night’s discussion.
Olsen’s firm is asking to lease on a long-term basis the city-owned property near the wastewater plant, which he said was deemed the “most-suitable” location here for the solar-generating facility that would include a network of collectors. The city government would not own the solar farm or supply any funds to construct the facility.
However, it would receive money from the lease as well as extra property tax revenues generated by construction of the solar plant. Also, engineering, electrical, maintenance and other jobs would be created by the project, although no figure was mentioned at the commissioners’ meeting.
Some of the workload would be filled by Pike Electric, with other tasks subcontracted, Olsen said. Arrangements have been made with Surry Community College to provide needed solar-technology training.
Such a facility also would be expected to draw numerous visitors, based on Tuesday night’s discussion, as well as serve as a tool for business and economic development locally.
Among other benefits, it would offset the emission of 972 tons of carbon dioxide annually, city officials were told. Carbon dioxide is a factor in global warming by preventing the radiation of heat from Earth to space.
The proposed lease is not in its final form, City Attorney Hugh Campbell said. Tuesday night’s approval of the letter of intent simply allows the effort to proceed, with the board to consider further approvals along the way.
At this point, city officials seem enthused over the prospects offered by the solar farm.
In response to a technical concern raised by Commissioner Todd Harris, Olsen said the power generated by the system could be integrated into the existing electrical grid without problems. Duke Energy has a substation nearby, and lines already in the area are sufficient to accommodate the power produced, he said.
Security fencing is in place around the wastewater plant area as well, and would only need to be beefed up to a small degree for the solar farm, Olsen said.
Harris also said he was concerned that Mount Airy not get into the power-generating business.
“There is no need or requirement for the city to invest any capital whatsoever,” Olsen said.
Mount Airy envisions no other long-term use for the land in question, according to Tuesday night’s discussion.
Budget Hearing
Also Tuesday, a public hearing on the proposed 2010-2011 municipal budget drew only one speaker, Tom Bagnal of Country Club Road. Bagnal is a former city commissioner and present member of the board of trustees for the Mount Airy Public Library, which is not a municipal facility but operated through the Northwest Regional Library system.
While Bagnal said he had no criticisms of the city budget itself, which holds the line on property taxes and utility charges to municipal residents, he is concerned about the library’s outlook. It is facing a $5,000 budget shortfall for the next year, due to factors including increases in health and retirement plans.
He asked the commissioners to provide any assistance they can in helping the library round out its budget. Though it is not a city-owned entity, Mount Airy allocates some funding to the facility each year. For the budget year that goes into effect on July 1, the library is projected to receive $101,650, the same as this year. The preliminary budget also calls for holding the funding line for other outside organizations, including the Surry Arts Council.
Bagnal defended the role of the library in the life of citizens. “Last year, our front door opened 65,000 times,” he said in citing its degree of use. “This year, we are up to 70,000.”
The board took no action on the request, but likely will discuss the matter during an upcoming budget-workshop process.
Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.
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