On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council approved a plan put forward by the City’s Building Services Department to install solar panels on several City buildings.
The project will cost $993,938.28, with nearly half of the money coming from eligible Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds. Dallas authorized Ameresco Inc. to perform the work.
The solar panel project is the latest in a series of decisions made by the City Council to meet its goal of reducing hydrocarbons to 43% from 2015 levels by 2030.
The endeavor is part of the Comprehensive Environmental Climate Action Plan (CECAP) agreed upon in 2020. The panels are estimated to reduce energy consumption at the three selected facilities by 57%.
The project will place photovoltaic solar panels at Fretz Park Recreation Center, Dallas West Branch Library, and the Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center.
The panels will provide an estimated 15.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 12,280 tons over 25 years.
The City Council voted to approve inclusion in a rebate program through Oncor Delivery Electric Company that will return $290,000 to the City’s Capital Construction Fund.
“As Dallas celebrates Earth Day this month, Wednesday’s actions by the City Council show R.E.A.L. investment that is Responsible, Equitable, Accountable, and Legitimate in support of our ambitious CECAP, which has made Dallas a leader and national model for sustainability,” said City Manager T.C. Broadnax in a press release announcing the vote.
Solar panels have an estimated lifespan of about 25 years, but the process for handling panels that are no longer viable is not set in stone.
Currently, only one state has a program for recycling panels, while the vast majority end up in landfills. According to Wired, the cost of recycling solar panels outweighs the benefit by about 10-to-1, with recycling centers earning about $3 per 60-cell panel, primarily from the amount of aluminum recovered. Silicon, glass, lead, silver, and tin are typically crushed and discarded. It costs about $1 to dump a panel in a landfill.
In addition to authorizing the installation of the solar panels, the City Council also approved the purchase of high-efficiency lighting solutions for three additional facilities: the City Hall parking garage, the Juanita Craft Recreation Center, and the Hampton-Illinois Branch Library.
The total cost of purchasing and installing the lighting is not to exceed $1,030,500, with $506,062 coming from coronavirus funds. As with the solar project, the balance will come from the City’s Capital Construction Fund.
”The Dallas City Council’s investments in these enhancements to city-owned facilities will result in significant and measurable progress toward our CECAP goals,” Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS) Director Carlos Evans said in a press release. “This decision demonstrates the City’s commitment to combating climate change and realizing a healthier and more sustainable environment, particularly for our underserved communities.”
The resolution passed on April 13 will go into effect immediately, allowing the City to begin the process of purchasing and installing the measures.
Seriously???? Solar panels???? Would it not make more sense to take those funds and put them to use where the citizens can actually see and “feel” the impact of those allocated dollars. How about putting those funds towards accelerating road repair in and around Dallas. At the very least, put the funds into a cost sharing pool to help citizens whose vehicles are damaged due to the incredibly poor road conditions in Dallas. Dallas road conditions are an embarrassment to anyone living in Dallas. You don’t want visitors to Dallas remembering Dallas for the poor driving conditions and crater size pot holes on practically every downtown street. Another great use of our city funds and leadership. Bravo!