MASON CITY – A ribbon-cutting event was held this week at the Mason City library for a brand new solar energy plant, installed on top of the building.
Installation of this new solar energy plant on the Mason City library began in June and will eventually provide much of the energy needed for the building.
This city-sponsored endeavor will save the taxpayers thousands of dollars.
Renesola solar panels arrived in early June of this year, along with the crew who installed them on the roof of the library. The install was completed in July.
The solar plant is a power purchase agreement, Director Mary Markwalter explained to NIT.
“A group of investors pays for the installation and then we pay them for the power (they plant) generates for us for 15 years. We own the solar energy plant at that point and then the energy is free for the library.”
“It should produce 30% of the library energy which will be a substantial savings in 15 years,” Director Markwalter said.
As city budgets continue to tighten, all city departments – including the library – have had to search for cost-saving measures.
There is no city capital money being spent on this project.
Barb McGregor was said to have started this project 3 years ago. She worked with the Library Board and Director Markwalter to work out a plan which was later approved by the city council.
Mayor Eric Bookmeyer did not attend the event. Not one Mason City council member attended the event.
4 thoughts on “Mason City library formally introduces solar plant with ribbon-cutting event; mayor, council absent”
As well they didn’t. A few years ago they were going to downsize the library because of lack of utilization and the cost of running it. Now they have installed a expensive system with a 20 to 25 year payback. The old facility will fall down before this is paid for.
$ buys almost anything yet not self discipline.
Bookie was on his way over and by blue zones standards he was walking over when he walked by a bar and it reached out and grabbed him and dragged him in,.
Too busy to show up..must be hatching new ways to screw the citizens !