Site preparation began this week on two of the more conspicuous solar installations in the city of Perry’s plan for 10 self-sustaining buildings.
Some 15 trees were cut down in Wiese Park last week to make way for the series of solar canopies that will line the bike trail north of the McCreary Community Building. The majority of the trees were ash and slated for future removal with the progress of the emerald ash borer in Iowa.
Concrete footings for the canopies will be 12 feet deep and three feet wide, according to the city, making them hopefully sturdy enough to withstand the next derecho wind storm.
Groundbreaking is also near for a solar pavilion between the Raccoon River Valley trailhead and Caboose Park in downtown Perry, and solar carport canopies are planned for the city hall parking lot and at the Perry Public Library.
The city aims to save almost $5 million on its electricity bills and reduce its carbon footprint to zero under its agreement with Norwalk-based Red Lion Renewables to install the arrays of solar panels and carport canopies on or around 10 city buildings.
Under the power purchase agreement, the city will buy its electricity from Red Lion at a rate lower than that charged by Alliant Energy, the city’s current energy provider. There are be no up-front cost to the city to build the solar system, with installations planned for:
City Hall, 1102 Willis Ave.
Police/Fire Department, 908 Willis Ave.
Library, 1101 Willis Ave.
Carnegie Library, 1123 Willis Ave.
Towncraft, 1124 Willis Ave.
Recycle Building, 14323 Ivy Place
Caboose Park, First and Willis Avenue
Public Works North Shop, W. Fourth Street
Public Works Shop Shop, W. Fourth Street
McCreary Community Building, 1800 Pattee St.
The city stands to save between $2.7 million and $4.8 million over the 30-year life of the system, with an option to buy the solar array outright anytime after the fifth year for about $1.2 million or less.
Altogether, the solar system will generate 102.2% of the green energy needed to power the 10 city sites, making Perry a leading community in reducing the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and bring the town close to meeting its goals of a net-zero community.
Most of the other solar panels will be largely unseen rooftop installations on city buildings, with the largest single installation an array of solar panels covering much of the roof surface of the McCreary Community Building. The Perry Public Safety Building at 908 Willis Ave. would also see a large rooftop array.
The solar installations can also accommodate the future integration of battery storage or car-charging stations for further energy resiliency in Perry.
