City of Oakdale Moves Closer to Adopting Solar Panels

The Environmental Management Commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend that the city council install three photovoltaic solar panels on the roofs of city hall and both fire stations.

The city council will make a decision at their Oct. 11 workshop session, and the panels’ installation could begin by the end of the year.

The proposed panels would be made by tenKsolar, a Bloomington manufacturer, and would reduce the city’s traditional energy use by 25 percent and its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent a year, said Jennifer Hassebroek, Oakdale’s senior community development specialist.

The panels would come with a 25-year warranty and cost the city about $145,000 to be paid in installment payments for six years. Hassebroek said the value of the energy savings over the panels’ 25-year lifespan is estimated to be $358,000, more than covering the installation costs.

“As far as maintenance,” she said, “all that needs to happen is a couple times a year you basically squeegee them off.”

Commissioner Keith Miller said he was firmly in favor of the panels.

“I think this would be a great step toward having more sustainable technology in terms of energy for the city,” he said. “The only concern is whether the city can deal with the 25-year return on investment.”

Hassebroek said she estimated the installment costs would be recouped by the 13th year.

Commissioner James Persoon said he was not worried about the length of time it would take to recoup the installation costs.

“For a business, it’s a long payback, but I think cities take a longer term view,” he said.

The full cost of installing the panels was estimated to be $917,000, but Xcel Energy rebates and a federal income tax credit available until the end of 2011 would reduce the city’s share in the cost by 84 percent.

Hassebroek said the city chose the tenKsolar panels because they are made locally (Xcel offers a “Made in Minnesota” rebate), they do not penetrate the roof and they have a good safety record.

Woodbury, Maple Grove, and Falcon Heights are considering similar proposals.

Other Environmental Management Commission items

 - Commissioner Lee Hoskins has resigned, and the committee is looking for a new member.

- A clean-up of Tanners Lake yielded two tons of trash and litter, 90 tires and 1.5 tons of scrap metal.

- A solar workshop is being offered on Oct. 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. that will explain the basics of solar technology and give tips to attendees who want to install solar panels in their homes.