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Politics & Government

Oakdale City Council Opts for Solar Panels at City Hall, but not Fire Stations

The council voted 4-1 in favor of the proposal, although one council member said she would have supported doing all three.

Oakdale City Council members voted 4-1 Tuesday in favor of placing solar panels on top of city hall this year, opting against additional panels on the city’s two fire stations, as proposed. 

“I think we’re happy to make this step into solar energy and its savings,” said council member Stan Karwoski, “but we just didn’t want to quite go as aggressively with the investment … just wanted to be a little more cautious.”

Oakdale's Enivronmental Mangement Commission had recommending installing solar panel systems on all three buildings this year.

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Council member Paul Reinke voted against the proposal saying the estimated nine- to 13-year payback of the system—which will cost the city about $50,000—is too long.

“Even though it’s intriguing to become a leader, to help offset some carbon emissions, to be a demonstration project … it’s still very expensive in my mind,” he said. “That’s concerning, especially at this time of very tight, high competition for the dollars that get spent in the city.”

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Panels at city hall are expected to provide 12 percent of the building’s electricity, according to a staff report by Senior Community Development Specialist Jennifer Hassebroek. They would save an average of $5,075 per year or $126,874 over their lifespan, according to the report, although Community Development Director Bob Streetar said those estimates were conservative.

Glenn Skuta, a resident who spoke to the council about , said he applauded the decision to install solar panels, but asked them to consider installing them on two, if not all three, of the buildings.

“As a city, yeah, it’s a long payback time, but the city’s not a homeowner that may move out before they realize the savings; the city’s not a business that may move or go out of business before they realize the savings; the city’s going to be here,” he said. “Those facilities are going to be here for the full duration of this lease and beyond, so the sooner we act, the more tax money we start saving.”

Council member Lori Pulkrabek said she favored installing all three this year.

“In looking at this over the long term, I think that this does make sense,” she said. “I’d be the first to say, 'Well, I want a shorter payback,' but with the rebates as they are, with a nine year payback rather than 13, I like it; I think it makes sense.”

Rebates from Xcel Energy and a federal income tax credit are covering 84 percent of the system and installation cost, according to the staff report.

Mayor Carmen Sarrack said he was worried about installing three solar panel systems and then having cheaper, better technology come out three or five years later—leaving the city "stuck."

Karwoski said he’d be open to considering installing solar panels on the other buildings in two years, when the city might still have a chance to take advantage of the current rebate programs.

The panels are manufactured by Minneapolis-based tenKsolar, and will be installed by Lakeville-based Energy Alternatives.

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