Town could save more than $2 million

By Ashley M. Casey

Staff Writer

The town of Cicero could join its neighbor Clay in a foray into solar power.

Chris Carrick of the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNYRPDB) presented the possibility of installing photovoltaic (PV) panels at the closed landfill on Route 31 at the March 23 Cicero Town Board meeting.

“It’s good for the environment, it’s good for the taxpayer and it’s a good thing to do,” Supervisor Mark Venesky said.

Carrick said the CNYRPDB’s Solarize Central New York initiative has helped residents and businesses pursue solar power and is now extending that assistance to municipalities.

“It occurred to us that municipalities have an important role to play … as leaders,” Carrick said.

Solarize CNY has identified approximately 50 sites suitable for PV installation among two dozen municipalities and public authorities, including the Port of Oswego and the Onondaga County Water Authority. The CNYRPDB would create a joint request for proposal (RFP) for a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a solar developer to achieve the best cost savings for all of the municipalities and authorities involved.

Carrick said PV panels on Cicero’s landfill, located at 6540 Route 31, would total 1,065 kilowatts (kW) and could generate about 1 megawatt (MW) in their first year, which would more than cover Cicero’s electricity usage for both its facilities and streetlights. By selling the electricity to National Grid at 6 cents per kilowatt, the town could save $3,827,250 on its utility bills. Subtracting $1,832,198 in PPA payments, Cicero could see a net savings of $2,421,052 over 20 years.

If the town chooses to enter into a direct purchase agreement, installation would cost $2,662,500 and operations and maintenance costs would total $429,254, leaving Cicero with a net 20-year savings of $1,161,496.

The town of Cicero would have to contribute to the project costs, including the extension of power lines from Fergerson Road and Route 31 to the landfill, which Venesky estimated would cost $66,500.

“We’ve earned that back — the connection cost — within the first year,” Venesky said.

Resident Don Snyder expressed doubt that there are enough sunny days in CNY to generate power, but the town of Clay has not found that to be a problem with its own solar array.

“I sought out companies that had the technology for solar panels that could function not just with the sun but with light of any kind, and [Liverpool’s] Warner Energy is just such a company,” Clay Supervisor Damian Ulatowski told the Star-Review in 2013, before Clay’s array was installed. “They’ve created technology that’s 85 percent effective with any kind of light.”

In the first year after installation, Clay reduced its power costs by 44 percent.

Resident Loomis Pardee asked what the life expectancy of the PV panels would be. Carrick said while the town would sign a 20-year contract for the array, the panels themselves have a 25-year warranty and likely would “last 30 or even 40 years.” While the quality of the panels degrades slightly each year, Carrick said they would still be at 80 percent production after 25 years.

Councilor Mike Becallo asked Carrick about the possibility of wind power as well as solar. The Fenner Wind Farm in Madison County generates 30 MW of power, and Carrick said the town of Fabius is looking into wind power as well.

“Wind is very location-specific,” Carrick said. “From our [data], Cicero doesn’t stand out as a great opportunity.”

The town board voted unanimously to authorize a study of the site, its solar capacity and the possible savings and allow Solarize CNY to pursue joint solicitation packages for a power purchase agreement. The full “Solar Feasibility Assessment Report” can be found in the town board’s March 23 attachments at bit.ly/cicero323.

Becallo opposes consolidated lighting districts

Also at the March 23 meeting, the town board continued its public hearings regarding the consolidation of Cicero’s 19 lighting districts into five lighting districts. Comptroller Shirlie Stuart called the current special district system “confusing and fiscally broken.”

“Over the years, it’s become so unfair,” Stuart said. “There’s no rhyme or reason to it.”

Venesky said rates would increase for some residents and decrease for others.

“My rates will be going up, but we have eight areas in the town where rates are going down,” he said. “Six people are going to complain; eight people are going to applaud us.”

Becallo opposed the consolidation of the lighting districts because residents raised questions about the fairness of the new system, which moves from basing lighting rates on assessed value to a unit rate.

“We’re not ready to do this,” he said.

A breakdown of the new lighting districts and their rates can be found at bit.ly/cicerolighting.

Dickson honored

The town board also took a moment at the March 23 meeting to recognize Judy Dickson, who is retiring after 20 years at the Cicero Senior Center.

“We passed a law a couple of years ago: we cannot make you retire, so if you want to stay, here’s your opportunity,” Venesky said.

Venesky applauded Dickson’s years of service and remembered his first meeting with Dickson.

“She made me feel like I had known her forever,” Venesky said. “If that’s the quality of the management of our senior center, I know why it’s so successful.”

The town board presented Dickson with a proclamation and a bouquet of flowers.