Green Committee one step closer to bringing solar energy into town

Date: 1/25/2010

Jan. 25, 2010



By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW -- The Green Committee is growing ever closer to achieving one of its main goals -- bringing solar energy into the town of East Longmeadow.

At its Jan. 12 meeting, the Green Committee met with Mike Silvestrini, CEO of Greenskies Renewable Energy, for a presentation on the company's solar energy model.

"Solar energy makes sense," Silvestrini said. "It doesn't require a steady flow of grant money."

Greenskies has developed a concept that combines long term financial services, project design and management, utility inflation forecasting and construction contracting that would benefit municipalities such as East Longmeadow. The company builds, owns, maintains and insures the parcels that house their photovoltaic panels and the town's municipal buildings will reap the benefits.

Five acres of photovoltaic panels can result in up to one megawatt of power, and Silvestrini recommended Greenskies install at least 10 acres of panels to fully power all the town-owned buildings.

"You can get utility rates lower than I've ever seen anywhere else without the headaches of doing this yourself," Silvestrini said. "[Allowing us to install the panels] could save you millions [of dollars]. There's no downside for municipalities."

The Green Committee, however, wants the town to own the panels and their output.

"A municipality could buy the panels after five years," Silvestrini explained. "A power purchase agreement usually lasts 20 years ... There is a buy out option or you could continue to purchase the energy at a significantly lower rate."

Town Accountant Tom Caliento, a member of the Green Committee, said the town would prefer to own the facilities. Silvestrini said he and his company are "not opposed to that."

"It's just savings until you want to buy it," Silvestrini added.

"We've actively been looking into solar energy since the inception of the Green Committee," Committee Chair Jim Driscoll told Reminder Publications. "The models we're looking at would mean no cash outlay for the town but we would still reap the benefits of that green energy."

While Greenskies offers a concept the Green Committee is interested in, Driscoll said they will look at a few more companies before bringing a definitive plan before the Board of Selectmen.

"We're looking to have something about this on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting," Driscoll said.

For more information on Greenskies, visit www.greenskies-energy.com .