Wausau, WI
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Conceptual Solar System Design & Analysis - April 19, 2024
Expand/Contract Questions and Answers
As part of the City of Wausau’s Strategic Plan to “support and lead in green and eco-friendly efforts and initiatives for a cleaner, healthier and sustainable environment,” the city is pursuing the planning and installation of solar at or nearby city owned facilities, including the new Drinking Water Treatment Facility. The goal is to use any generated power directly, thereby reducing electric dependency and operational costs. The city is pursuing the following objectives:
- reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions;
- improve grid security and stability;
- reduce electricity bills and get paid for electricity generated;
- accelerate the development and deployment of solar technology to support a decarbonized energy sector; and
- improve the resilience and reliability of the Drinking Water Treatment Facility.
- City staff has been considering solar at its facilities since 2017. With new laws changing in the State of Wisconsin and at the federal level, municipalities are now eligible for direct federal tax credits which improves the return on investment (ROI) for solar arrays. Through previous investigation it has been determined to place solar array facilities to directly use the power generated by the facility and then sell back any excess power to the utility company. New legislation now allows non-taxable entities, such as municipalities, to take advantage of tax credits and offset capital costs for the installation of a solar array, making these facilities more affordable.
- Solar was part of the planning and design of the new Drinking Water Treatment Facility. Land is available nearby to build the solar array and the drinking water facility may directly use the power generated, reducing energy costs and helping to mitigate future rate increases.
- The Task Force is made up of one alder person, one Wausau Water Works Commission member, and three citizen members. The Task Force mission is to establish/discuss general background information on solar power, identify current utility power needs, develop conceptual solar array options and finally evaluate the conceptual options and make a recommendation to the Wausau Water Works Commission.
- 1801 Burek Avenue Wausau, WI 54401
- We treat an average of 4.5 million gallons per day, the treatment facility is capable of providing 9 million gallons a day of treated water.
- In the month of May 2023, the new plant used 163.976 MWh with an average of 4.969 MWh per day.
- In the month of April 2023, the new plant used 140.25 MWh with an average of 4.836 MWh per day.
- Source: The Drinking Water Treatment Facility’s electricity bill.
- The average USA household consumes 10,715 kWh or 10.715 MWh each year. Around every other day the Drinking Water Treatment Facility uses the same amount of power an average US household consumes in a year.
- China produces about 67% of the world supply of solar panels
- USA produces less than 1% of the world supply of solar panels
- About 21% in 2020
- Monocrystalline or polycrytalline.
- Maximum of 15 feet
- Between 40lbs and 70lbs.
- Solar panels are extremely weather resistant, being able to withstand winds of up to 160 mph and hail.
- Around 30 years is when they should be replaced.
- Yes, solar panels can be recycled through the installer or a 3rd party.
- 15.5 – 46.5 kWh of energy each month per panel.
- Solar tracking can have upwards of an 18% increase in solar power output compared to non-tracking systems.
- Solar tracking systems cost about 30% more than non-tracking systems.
- Solar tracking systems have a slightly longer return on investment (ROI), but after completion, the solar tracking system will save significantly more power generation over the lifespan.
- Both, depending on the site, the chosen method will be determined on the type of site and foundation that may be used for the construction of the solar array.
- Exact location has not yet been determined but the city has considered 1010 Bugbee Ave and other property adjacent to the Drinking Water Treatment Facility.
- The water plant is one of the largest users of electricity in the city. It is more cost effective to locate the solar array near the electric user so the power generated may be used directly versus selling the power back to the electric utility.
- If the array is not directly hooked up to the major consumer it must be sold to the utility company at a significantly lower rate.
- When designing the placement of the array we are using data from federal/state government to keep the proposed array outside of any identified floodplains.
If the solar array were placed in the area to the north, how deep do we need to go? Could we build on 4 to 8 feet?
- If the solar array is placed to the north, it would likely be designed with a fixed tilt ballasted system so the underground conditions would have less impact on the design.
- A pile driven racking system is typically driven between 8’ and 15’ in the ground.
- There are a variety of options you can choose for landscaping underneath ground mounted solar panels. Plants such as wildflowers, vegetables and grass often grow well under solar panels. Shaded plants require less water and help to keep the temperature under the panels cooler, in turn maximizing the panels efficiency. Other options include rocks or mulch on top of landscape cloth to reduce the possibility of unwanted growth for a cleaner lower maintenance appearance.
- Look to Rhinelander, wildflower habitat and other landscaping that may fit the area the solar array is installed.
- It takes a relatively short time for an array to be built since the panels are pre-built in the factory. The only lengthy part is landscaping and installing the racking for the panels.
- In house with our electricians.
- The dark silicone cells of solar panels are designed to absorb heat from sunlight. Once any portion of a panel is exposed to the sun, a small amount of heat spreads throughout the panel and melts the snow. You see this same effect with a blacktop driveway, once a hole in the snow becomes exposed to the sun, it quickly grows. Other weather like rain clears off any dirt or dust that the solar array accumulates.
- Tracking solar panels have less snow that accumulates since the panels move and the snow that accumulates slides off due to gravity.
- Solar projects are effectively silent. Tracking motors and inverters may produce an ambient hum that is not typically audible from outside the enclosure.
- Solar projects do not attract high volumes of additional traffic, as they do not require frequent maintenance after installation.
- Solar panels are built to absorb the sun’s light and energy and are designed with anti-reflective coatings to mitigate glare/reflection.Glare and reflection are also mitigated through proper design and setting of the panels.Solar panels create less glare than a typical house window and produce about the same amount of glare as a blacktop driveway.
- Between 5 – 15 years.
- Yes, the Inflation Reduction Act allows municipalities to receive 30% cash back on the cost of the solar array construction.
- Source:
- Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook | Clean Energy | The White House
- Click the (Download the Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook).
- Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook | Clean Energy | The White House
- Source:
- Yes, the Inflation Reduction Act allows municipalities to receive 30% cash back on the cost of the solar array construction.
- This depends on the size of the array, but preliminary analysis shows a solar array would be able to generate up to 50% of the facility electrical usage.
- A study conducted across Illinois determined that the value of properties within one mile increased by an average of 2 percent after the installation of a solar array.
- An examination of 5 counties in Indiana indicated that upon completion of a solar farm, properties within 2 miles were an average of 2 percent more valuable compared to their value prior to installation.
- An appraisal study spanning from North Carolina to Tennessee shows that properties adjoining solar farms match the value of similar properties that do not adjoin solar farms within 1 percent.