The town of West Hartford installed two solar electric systems totaling 160 kilowatts on the roofs of the Department of Public Works and the Bishops Corner Library.
These were the first Connecticut installations for San Francisco solar provider Tioga Energy. Branford-based Aegis Solar managed the installation for the systems.
The DPW will receive 34 percent of its electricity needs from its system while the library will receive 48 percent.
The installations were financed through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Tioga, where West Hartford will purchase the solar power from the systems at a rate lower than the local utility rate. The town should save $244,000 in electricity expenses, based on current prices.