A solar energy developer has completed work on a rooftop solar array at an East Hartford senior center expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save local taxpayers an average of $12,500 annually.
Hartford-based Verogy announced it has wrapped construction on a 121-kilowatt photovoltaic system atop a building at 15 Milbrook Drive that houses both the South End Senior Center and the town’s Senior Services Division.
Once up and running, the solar panels will produce 137,517 kilowatt-hours of energy per year, offsetting the equivalent carbon dioxide emissions created by burning over 107,000 pounds of coal, according to Verogy.
East Hartford has a power purchase agreement with Verogy allowing the town to buy power from the company’s projects at a substantially discounted rate. It is estimated that the solar energy system will save taxpayers an average of $12,500 annually over 25 years.
“Sustainability is an important goal in East Hartford, [and] that’s why we have taken steps to adopt clean transportation, energy efficiency and other measures,” said Mayor Mike Walsh.
“The completion of the solar array at the Senior Center makes it the tenth solar installation in town, demonstrating our passion for reducing our carbon footprint and investing in renewable energy. The solar panels at the Senior Center are the latest example of how East Hartford is making our community ‘greener’ while saving taxpayers’ money.”
The solar energy system was part of a $9.9 million project to construct the new senior facility at 15 Milbrook Drive, which opened in September.
