Whitefish Bay planned to install solar panels on its Public Works building in summer 2019 with the help of Arch Solar. The projected electricity savings will be $620,000 over 25 years. The project demonstrates how a municipality can use solar energy to reduce operating expenses and invest in infrastructure.
Public Works Director John Edlebeck began researching solar after a resident mentioned We Energies’ Solar Now program, which leases rooftop space for utility-owned panels. Further investigation showed that purchasing a village-owned system would be nearly three times more cost effective. Arch Electric helped Edlebeck evaluate the project’s feasibility, bringing experience that included a large solar installation at Ikea in Oak Creek.
The installation at 155 W. Fairmount Avenue carried an estimated cost of $286,440. A Focus on Energy grant of $82,809 would help offset that investment. The building’s existing annual energy expenses were approximately $25,000 to $30,000, while its annual electric bill was expected to fall to about $2,500 following installation.
Projected annual savings of $27,500 would help recover the infrastructure investment within the first seven years. Afterward, savings were expected to exceed $30,000 annually as utility rates increased.
Seasonal production would influence how the system operated. During summer, excess solar electricity would be sold to We Energies. During winter, the village would continue purchasing electricity from the utility. Weather-dependent annual energy spending was projected at $3,000 to $5,000 over the planning period.
Although the panels were expected to last 30 years, the village used a conservative 25-year period for its financial calculations. Their anticipated lifespan also aligned with the building’s eventual roof replacement.
Installation was scheduled for completion by the end of August. To address leak concerns, panels would sit in wire mesh baskets weighted with large rocks instead of attaching directly to the roof. Internet-connected monitoring would identify individual panels needing maintenance and support ongoing oversight.
