Solar Installations Complete At 7 Manchester Municipal Buildings

Manchester officials have announced solar installations in seven places.

Patch | Chris Dehnel
December 12, 2022

A total of seven municipal buildings in Manchester are now featuring solar power. Six of them are schools.

Manchester thus becomes one of the first towns to reduce energy costs using the Connecticut Green Bank's Solar MAP. The solar systems are projected to save the town more than $100,000 annually in energy costs and more than $2.1 million over the term of the power purchase agreements.

The solar projects are made possible by the Connecticut Green Bank's Solar Municipal Assistance Program or MAP. Solar developer Greenskies Clean Focus was responsible for the installation of the systems.

In total, more than 5,200 solar panels have been installed at Verplanck Elementary School, Highland Park School, Manchester Regional Academy, Martin Elementary School, Waddell Elementary School, Manchester High School, and the Water and Sewer Building.

Five of the seven systems will be energized by the end of the year, with the last two expected to go online in early 2023.

"We are excited to lead the way in partnering with Solar Map to reduce energy costs for Manchester Schools and municipal buildings," Town Manager Steve Stephanou said. "This project showcases the Town’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing renewable efforts and is one step closer to ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable future for the Manchester community."

Superintendent of Schools Matt Geary welcomed the project.

"I appreciate all the work and collaboration that it has taken to get this far and am excited that we are positioned to have lower energy costs for years ahead," Geary said. "But more important is how this benefits our students. Investing in clean, renewable energy is one more way we can ensure a better future for them."

Through the Solar MAP, the Green Bank provides technical support to municipalities to develop solar PV projects on municipal buildings, such as town halls, emergency services buildings, schools, and more. The Green Bank also provides financing for the solar systems through a power purchase agreement, which allows the municipality to access solar with no upfront installation costs, no new debt to incur, and no operations and maintenance costs.

"Manchester was one of the first participants in Solar MAP, and we are excited that their projects are now installed and reducing the energy costs for the town," said Mackey Dykes, Vice President of Financing Programs at the Green Bank.

"Greenskies is proud to be part of the Green Bank’s Solar MAP program to help Connecticut municipalities achieve energy savings by installing solar," said Stanley Chin, president and CEO of Greenskies Clean Focus. "We appreciate this opportunity to support Manchester’s commitment to sustainability with seven on-site solar systems."

Inclusive Prosperity Capital, a non-profit organization, partners with Green Bank to own and maintain the system.