The town of Chapel Hill does well to explore the addition of solar panels on town-owned facilities, but economic feasibility should be the chief concern in deciding whether or not to install them.
As the town continues to explore sustainability options, it is important to continue to differentiate between inefficient, feel-good opportunities and responsible, profitable ones.
The environmental benefits of solar panels are well documented, and expanded use in Chapel Hill would be another major step forward in the town’s sustainability efforts.
The host-to-own model that would allow third-party entities to lease town property and install the solar panels offers a practical alternative to state or federal funding.
Putting installation in the hands of these private third-party entities and out of the hands of the local government ensures that this task is done efficiently, as their profit-driven nature avoids the inefficiencies that often accompany bureaucracy.
At the same time, this profit-driven nature has these companies pushing for a good deal, and the town should be certain that it doesn’t come out of this deal on the losing side.
Ideally, this arrangement should benefit both parties, as the town gets renewable energy with long-term benefits and the third-party receives significant tax relief.
The benefits of turning traditionally overlooked and dormant roof space — like that in the Chapel Hill Transit bus parking lot, one of the potential locations of the solar panels — into a permanent energy source for the town are undeniable.
The town has already acted responsibly by choosing to pursue solar panels; now it must continue to do so with an economic focus.
