| 6/24/2010 11:27:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Solar energy farm proposed
By Ryan Whisner
Regional Editor
JEFFERSON - A proposal to build the second-largest solar-generation farm in the United States was presented to City of Jefferson officials Wednesday night.
Green States Energy Inc. of Deerfield Beach, Fla., unveiled plans to build a solar energy farm on 100 acres of the city's north industrial park that would generate approximately 20 megawatts of electricity.
Jefferson Sun One would have approximately 100,000 individual solar panel modules on the 100-acre parcel. The site - just north of the former Brigg & Stratton plant - would generate approximately 3.5 million kilowatt hours per year, equivalent to generating sufficient electricity for about 3,500 homes. An interconnectivity agreement with Jefferson Utilities and WPPI is intended.
"This is a big deal if it can be brought to fruition and can be built," said David Jenkins of the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence.
Currently, he noted, Wisconsin has approximately 6.5 megawatts of installed solar capacity. Only two cities in the state are labeled by the U.S. Department of Energy as solar cities.
"Overnight, if this project were built, the City of Jefferson would have three times as much solar energy as there is in the entire state," Jenkins said. "As far as I'm concerned, if you had 20 megawatts of power here, you would be a solar city."
Approximately five to six weeks ago, Jefferson city officials were approached by representatives from Green States Energy about locating the solar energy farm in Jefferson. Green States representatives presented its proposal Wednesday to a joint session of the Jefferson Common Council, Jefferson Plan Commission and Jefferson Redevelopment Authority.
"It is an opportunity for us to not only provide a lot of good jobs in the construction phase and also the operational stage, but it is also an opportunity for the City of Jefferson to create an identity of being a nationwide leader in renewable energy," Mayor Dale Oppermann said. "We have the task, the challenge and the opportunity to reinvent the economy of Jefferson and the surrounding area."
He said Green States Inc. is offering the city the chance to get involved with state-of-the-art technology and create an identity for the city as being clean and green.
Green States Energy Inc. chief executive officer Jeffrey Lord described the company as a group of people who have come together under a common principle.
"The planet and the people on it will be better off if we can start using less fossil fuels to get the energy we need," Lord said, citing the company's mission.
He acknowledged that it was a long-term principle, not something that would happen overnight.
"What makes a difference is finding a way to get projects done that start to create renewable energy for our energy needs," he said. "It's one step or one project at a time."
Lord said the focus is on utility or municipal projects. He said Green States targets projects between 5 and 100 megawatts on sites ranging from 20 to 500 acres.
"When we say 'green jobs,' it's not just because you can throw the label 'green' on it," he said. " It means jobs that are part of a more sustainable economy, jobs that have a very exciting future in terms of growth."
Of the potential renewable energy options, solar energy is the cleanest, he pointed out.
Lord said projects such as Jefferson Sun One will serve as a role model for other communities.
"There is very little effect when compared to other types of renewable energy sources," he said.
Forster Engineering principal engineer Bruce Beth noted that Jefferson Sun One being located in Jefferson it likely would not lower the cost of power for Jefferson Utilities customers.
"What we want to achieve is to provide a means to bring that solar-generated electricity to the wholesale power market. We would like to do that in a way that doesn't negatively impact Jefferson Utilities customers by doing it through Jefferson Utilities facilities," he said.
The proposed solar farm is slated to generate 20 megawatts of power. He noted that the entire load of Jefferson Utilities is approximately 25 megawatts.
"When the sun shines, you've got the ability to use all that power and not buy too much other power besides that," Beth said.
In other weather, there will be more than what is being consumed and times where no power is being generated at all.
"A system like this can be implemented without negatively impacting the Jefferson Utilities customers," Beth said.
Pending the approval process, construction would get under way in September and take approximately 12 to 18 months. The accelerated timeframe relates to legislation that benefits solar energy farms with tax credits that is anticipated to expire in January. Projects need only be under way for the company to benefit from the program.
Brett Robinson, principal of Green Circuit, a consulting firm for Green States, said the preliminary cost estimates for the Jefferson Sun One project is in excess of $100 million.
That would include 50 percent on the solar modules, 20 percent on installation labor, 20 percent balance of the system components and 10 percent for design, engineering, construction management and administration.
Robinson explained that installation of the facility would allow Jefferson to contribute to creating less pollution and reduce use of oil, coal and natural gas.
Amenities on the site would include a fence around the site to keep the public out. However, he noted that there would be a learning center and public viewing area and technology lab there, as well.
"We're hoping to attract people to tag onto our solar project with the latest and greatest solar panels so they can have a place to test it," he said. "Everybody has all these great ideas in the lab and they don't have a good place to test them."
Also, the learning center would provide opportunities for fieldtrips for area students to learn more about the environment, solar energy and the generation of electricity.
Financing would be entirely from private sources.
The only costs the city would incur would be related to hiring planning consultants to assist in the review process.
City Administrator Tim Freitag said the city would seek for Green States to reimburse the city for the costs associated with the approval process, estimated at $25,000.
No formal votes were taken Wednesday.
During the next 30 to 45 days, the proposal will be reviewed by the Jefferson Plan Commission, Redevelopment Authority and Jefferson Common Council for approvals of the site plan, conditional-use permit, north business park protective covenant review, operational lease agreement and interconnectivity agreement. Public hearings will be included as part of the overall approval process.
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