LH Proposes Solar Panels Next to Sewer Plant
By Scott Johnson
LOCK HAVEN – Due to reduced costs and a preference from the two bidders, the Lock Haven city administration is recommending to relocate a proposed array of solar panels on the property adjoining the city’s sewer plant instead of near Piper Memorial Airport.
City Public Works Director Tony Stopper told council at its meeting Monday night the proposed re-location would add several more acres to the plan and eliminate the need for new poles to go to the Piper Museum. He said the plan would include the demolition of the former sewer plant and about 14 acres of usable space, instead of around 10 next to the airport.
Council agreed to hear a presentation from the two interested companies – RER Energy of Reading and Sun Directive of State College – at its August 5 meeting and a possible vote at its next meeting two weeks later.
Stopper said he has been working on the project since last November, when he solicited companies from the state. Eight or nine companies were contacted and only two responded. Both prefer the re-location, he said.
“The sewer plant uses a lot of electricity,” Stopper said after the meeting. “We thought about putting it on the roof, but there was not enough space.” He said he hopes during this budget season this fall he can project a net-zero use of electricity at the sewer plant.
City Manager Greg Wilson said the proposed land would include a parcel the city previously purchased from the Castanea Fire Co. Money for the proposed purchase of solar panels would come from remaining funds from borrowing money in 2016, he said.
Council voted unanimously to the public presentation next month with information given to the council prior. All seven council members were present. Stopper recommended any approval to come before the end of this year to realize a 35-percent tax incentive.
In other unanimous votes Monday night, council: n Approved a 10-year lease agreement with BP Business Ventures LLC (Murray Motors) for a 30-by-200 foot parcel behind the business between Second and Third avenues. Wilson said the price is $500 a year and is comparable with the market price of the parcel. He added Murray Motors will spend to re-locate the existing fence to the back of the parcel at its own cost, to be deleted from the yearly lease. ”If it costs $1,000, for example, they wouldn’t have to pay the lease for two years,” Wilson explained. “It shouldn’t be a large investment on their part.” He added any improvements done on the parcel would be city property.
- Approved the use of city streets, properties and facilities from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3 in support of the Lock Haven Area Jaycees 49th Annual Regatta. Wilson said the request is the same as in previous years. A representative from the Jaycees thanked the city and informed council the annual boat regatta was the largest race in the country of its kind last year, and plans are progressing for next year’s 50th anniversary.
- Approved to solicit bids for 2019 paving projects (portions of West Bald Eagle and East Walnut streets, and utility street repairs.) n Approved to solicit for bids for the 2019 Tidlow (Grant Street) Dam repair project to begin after Sept. 3, 2019.
- Heard a request for an unnamed for-profit corporation to close a block of Main Street from Fifth to Sixth streets. Wilson said the request came in early Monday morning and had no further details, except some of the profit would go toward “several” area organizations. He said the city does have an ordinance for nonprofit groups but not for for-profit groups to close a street. Wilson said council will receive more information prior to its next meeting on July 15.
