In partnership with FLS Energy, solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment will be installed on select Town of Cary sites for the collection of solar energy, a renewable source of energy. Sites included in the first phase of this project are:

• Town Hall Campus Parking Deck and Roof Structures
• South Cary Water Reclamation Facility

The Town will lease these sites to FLS Energy for up to 20 years for the development of solar PV generation at these sites. The Town will generate revenue while incurring no upfront costs or maintenance costs during the life of the lease. Power generated will be returned to the distribution grid as a renewable source of energy.

Schedule

This project is currently under design. The Town anticipates multi-phased installation over one year with Phase I construction to begin in late 2011.

Installation

Installation will be conducted by the Town’s energy partner, FLS Energy. All installations will comply with the Town's Land Development Ordinance (LDO) requirements. The estimated Phase I installation capacity will be approximately 2.265 megawatts of solar energy.

Once the initial installation is complete, the Town, along with FLS Energy, will evaluate the possibility of further installations to be located at:

• North Cary Water Reclamation Facility
• Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility
• Garmon Operations Center on James Jackson Avenue

Project Benefits include:

1. During Phase I, the solar PV equipment will offset 2,211 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually by generating enough energy to power 217 homes (based on expected actual perfomance), increasing with subsequent installations;
2. All electrical power produced by the solar panels will be returned to the power distribution grid as required by state law (the Town cannot "net-meter");
3. The Town will incur no upfront cost during life of the lease(s);
4. The Town will have NO maintenance cost during the lease period;
5. The Town will generate lease revenue at $0.02 per watt of installed capacity;
6. After the sixth year of operation, the Town will have the option to purchase the PV equipment at a depreciated amount; all benefits, power agreements and warranties will be transferred to the Town.

Background

Beginning in 2007, the North Carolina General Assembly implemented the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS), which mandates that electric utilities meet 12.5 percent of their electric needs through renewable sources. This act has furthered the development of private infrastructure for the purposes of generating renewable energy for sale to the Utilities.

Following this legislative action, the Town of Cary investigated the possibility of installing renewable energy generation equipment, specifically a photovoltaic system, on various locations on Town properties. Initial sites were selected based on available space, suitability for the efficient collection of solar energy with no impact on Town operations, and future expansion plans.

Photovoltaic Equipment

Installed equipment will not generate any noise or other disturbances. All electricity generated will be returned to the electric utility by FLS Energy. During the lease period, all electricity and environmental benefits will be owned by FLS Energy.

About FLS Energy

FLS Energy has considerable local experience developing solar projects in North Carolina, including installations at SAS and is currently in development of similar rooftop projects in the Triangle area.

Contact

David McNulty
Operations Analyst
Town of Cary Public Works and Utilities Department
PO Box 8005
Cary, NC 27512-8005
(919) 319-4558
David.McNulty@Townofcary.org