In the News

Mayor Sarno Invests in Solar Energy as part of Climate Action and Resilience Plan

|   City News

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (CAFO) TJ Plante and Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management (PBRM) Patrick Sullivan announced today that the City of Springfield would purchase 100% of solar energy from the Fort River Solar 2, LLC solar array in Amherst, Massachusetts with a 10% discount rate on electricity for municipal buildings. The agreement would save approximately $1.6 million in electricity costs over a 20-year period.

This investment continues Mayor Sarno and his administration’s commitment to the City of Springfield’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan of reducing the city’s carbon footprint and utilizing green energy initiatives while saving municipal costs on electricity.   

Mayor Sarno states, “Not only is this a sound and good financial deal for the city but this investment fully supports my administration’s efforts on our Climate Action and Resilience Plan to reduce our carbon footprint and utilize green energy initiatives.  I want to thank CAFO TJ Plante, PBRM Director Patrick Sullivan and their respective teams for their continued efforts in securing this agreement.  Thank you to the Fort River Solar 2 team for agreeing to our terms to purchase 100% of their expected annual energy generation at a 10% discount.”

CAFO Plante stated, “Mayor Sarno is committed to enhancing the City of Springfield’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan and this agreement with Fort River Solar fully supports that initiative.  The agreement has the additional benefit of securing a 10% discount on the electricity cost, which will create a savings of approximately $1.6 million in electricity costs over a 20-year period.”

PBRM Director Sullivan added, “At Mayor Sarno’s direction, CAFO Plante and I negotiated with the Fort River Solar team and expressed our interest in purchasing 100% of their projected solar energy generation from their solar facility in Amherst.  Thanks to this agreement, we continue to enhance the City of Springfield’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan.  Not only will this create a savings in electricity costs for our municipal buildings, but just as important, will help to lower our carbon footprint and expands the city’s green energy initiatives.”     

Back
Page last updated:  Tuesday, March 1, 2022 01:32 pm