Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas presented an extensive solar plan for the city of Manchester on Oct. 17 at the meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman. A solar power purchase agreement and landfill land lease between the city of Manchester and BFHJ Clean Energy was included in the proposal.
During the meeting, Mayor Gatsas said that the proposal would generate longstanding savings, which would benefit Manchester taxpayers.
“I am pleased to bring this opportunity before the board this evening. This proposal accomplishes three objectives for the taxpayers of Manchester," he says.
“First, it achieves sustainability goals. Secondly, it generates real, long-term savings that will benefit the taxpayers. Third, with this proposal Manchester is once again taking the lead in New Hampshire when it comes to the energy future of municipalities.”
The proposition is twofold. The first part is a 25-year purchase agreement for solar energy, which would guarantee taxpayers saving $3.3 million and will supply approximately 25 percent of Manchester’s current power needs. The second part of the plan is for a 25-year land lease for a three-plus megawatt solar array at the Manchester landfill.
Manchester will receive $67,000 in yearly lease payments. Gatsas refers to the plan as a “big win” for Manchester that will allow the city to take the lead on energy projects for other areas across the Granite state, similar to his LED street-lighting strategy.
“With an overall combined $5.5 million benefit to the taxpayers between savings and revenue I am confident that this is the right opportunity for the city to bring solar into our portfolio, “he says. “Once again we will be leading the way when it comes to energy projects for other municipalities across the state as we did with the LED street-lighting project that I brought forward.”
Current Issue - May 2024