The ABCs of Solar PPAs for Public Sector Entities
Dylan F. Borchers.
Bricker & Eckler.
In the past ten years, the cost of a solar panel installation has fallen by over 60 percent. As a result, onsite solar power has become an increasingly attractive way for consumers to manage electric costs and achieve sustainability goals.
Many of Bricker & Eckler’s public sector clients have been approached by solar developers over the years about signing a power purchase agreement (PPA). Developers promise to provide electricity at a fixed or reduced cost with no up-front payment, financing, construction or maintenance burdens. Is it too good to be true, they ask? Maybe not.
PPAs are a strong and viable tool when structured effectively. A PPA can enable municipalities, schools, townships and other political subdivisions to benefit from renewable energy while minimizing up-front expenditures and outsourcing operation and maintenance costs. Additionally, a PPA provides a predictable electricity cost over the term of the contract, often a period of 15-25 years. But political subdivisions need to carefully weigh all of the options and risks before moving forward.
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Roseville Officials Invest $7M to Revive Village, Offer New Business Opportunities
ROSEVILLE – Nearly a decade of grant-funded projects are transforming the village of Roseville.
Few will have the impact of a the new supermarket building. “It will be the centerpiece of a new downtown,” said Heidi Milner, the village’s fiscal officer.
It is nearing completion on part of the former Ungemach Pottery site on Potters Lane. Construction was funded by $750,000 in grants, the bulk of which was a USDA Rural Development Grant, and local investment. The new building features a grocery store, restaurant space and a walk-up window that could be used for ice cream orders. Garage doors on each side of the dining area will give it a pleasant summer atmosphere, as will a patio behind the building that opens facing the levy.
read moreOstrander community market doubles footprint with Consolidated Cooperative loan
Midway Market in Ostrander is set to double its size and add much-needed services, thanks in part to a loan facilitated by Consolidated Cooperative.
Ostrander’s only convenience store and gas station, Midway Market will double the square footage of the convenience and grocery store and add a car and pet wash.
read moreClinton County Port Authority Launches New Website
WILMINGTON, OH — The Clinton County Port Authority (CCPA) recently launched a new website, created by Golden Shovel Agency, to further strengthen its online presence and the economic growth of the community. The new site includes county-wide data, information specifically collected for site selectors, and local business resources to serve as a one-stop-shop for companies considering new investment or expansion in Clinton County.
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