The City began installation of solar arrays at seven City-owned sites in 2019, partnering with ReVision Energy. All seven are currently operational with the exception of the Landfill Maintenance Garage Building. This array was taken down in 2020 because the array’s inverters, the device that converts electricity from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC), were interfering with City communication systems. That problem was resolved by ReVision Energy in the Summer of 2021, but another issue cropped up with the approval of the Landfill Gas-To-Energy Project. Unfortunately, if the solar production were to be added to the landfill gas project’s electricity, it would push the total production from that site beyond a threshold that would trigger the need for a hefty equipment upgrade to the electric distribution circuit in West Lebanon. The City is looking for less expensive alternatives that would allow the reinstallation of solar at this location.
Phase 2, in 2020, included two additional arrays built on newly renovated city-owned buildings at the Civic Memorial Field Maintenance Garage and the Valley Cemetery Building. The city is working on Wi-Fi accessibility to these buildings to allow remote monitoring of their solar production.
In July 2022, City Management approved a plan to develop another large phase of solar on multiple sites throughout the city. The NH Senate Bill 321 that was passed in 2022 allows Lebanon to produce more electricity than the municipality itself needs through its solar and landfill gas projects. The excess could then be made available to other Lebanon businesses or institutions. This process may be managed through Lebanon Community Power if the two projects come to fruition in a coordinated manner.
For more information, visit LebanonNH.gov/Solar or contact Energy & Facilities Manager Tad Montgomery at tad.montgomery@lebanonnh.gov or by calling 603-442-6140.