Stratford Town Hall wants to run on solar energy

The Town of Stratford plans to install solar panels on its town hall to save electricity costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The panels will cover much of thegymnasium roof, and are part of an overall community energy plan.

"If we can heat this building and light it more efficiently, that brings our costs down which hopefully has an impact on keeping taxes down and providing funding for other programs," said Mayor David Dunphy.

Reduce carbon footprint

Dunphy explained the town wants to leave less of a carbon footprint and less dependent on fossil fuels, and the town hall is the largest building the town owns and the biggest consumer of energy.

"What it's going to do is prove that solar energy can bedeployed efficiently and effectively in the town," he said.

The town rents a portion of the building to the Public Schools Branch, but the solar panels will only be connected tothe town's portion of the building.

Hoping for additional funding

The project will cost $200,000. The town is paying for half and hopesto access provincial or fedral infrastructure funding for the rest.

Dunphyexplainedthere are a number of programs through which the town could qualify for so-called green funding.

"We're hoping to get $100,000 in funding, some green infrastructure money," he said.

Dunphy said the town expects to save about $15,000 through the project, and said by selling surplus power to Maritime Electric the panels could pay for themselves in about six years.

Stratford hopes to install the panels this summer.

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