More Than Just Panels: Maximizing the Impact of On-Site Solar Energy for Local Governments

Local and state governments are ramping up investments into on-site solar energy projects. It’s easy to see why, as the promise of energy cost savings and environmental benefits — coupled with attractive grants and incentives around renewable energy adoption — turn owning solar arrays into an undeniable benefit.

Public organizations can take further measures to maximize the impact of on-site solar energy on their communities. Local government leaders can strategically design solar projects that optimize energy savings and channel those savings toward addressing the most pressing needs of their constituents.

MAXIMIZING SOLAR ENERGY SAVINGS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT DESIGN
When implementing a solar energy project, it is crucial to consider your wider objectives to leverage solar energy to its maximum potential. This involves designing solar projects in synergy with other solutions to optimize building performance and maximize energy savings.

A well-planned approach to solar project design will:

• Decrease baseline energy costs — Enhance solar panel installation with energy-saving technologies like LED lighting, HVAC upgrades, building automation and envelope improvements. This will optimize energy use and significantly reduce overall consumption.
• Boost emergency preparedness — Integrate microgrid controls, battery storage and co-generation with on-site solar to increase resilience against extreme weather conditions and reduce grid reliance.
• Generate revenue — Establish new revenue streams through net metering agreements with local utilities. Solar energy generation can also be leveraged to attract new residents and investments by fueling future-oriented projects like electric vehicles (EVs).

Solar panels can operate for more than 40 years, typically with a 20-year power production warranty. Consequently, an investment in solar energy can save millions in energy costs over the long run, freeing up budget for other pressing needs.
 
AMPLIFYING COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH SOLAR INITIATIVES
If you could greatly reduce or eliminate your energy costs, what would you do with the excess funding in your budget? Across the country, we’re seeing organizations redirect solar energy savings to fund educational programs, staffing, facility upgrades and more. The possibilities are as diverse as the needs of each community.

Solar power can also be leveraged as an economic catalyst to fulfill the core mission of your organization. The top ways we’re seeing government organizations unlock community benefits include:

• Improving infrastructure — Given substantial maintenance backlogs and increasing prices, the public sector is confronting a crisis in meeting critical infrastructure needs. And as budgets tighten across the public sector, municipalities are unable to properly fund necessary upgrades and routine maintenance for their facilities, let alone the “nice-to-haves” that drive progress. Solar power adoption offers a feasible solution to this problem, allowing organizations to unlock energy savings that can be reinvested into their pressing infrastructure needs.
• Attaining sustainability goals — Solar energy, a clean energy source, can reduce the carbon footprint of power usage by up to 95 percent. This makes solar a practical solution for organizations aiming to achieve net-zero or sustainability goals.
• Fortifying extreme weather and energy resilience — On-site solar power generation, combined with battery storage and microgrid controls, guarantees a reliable power source during severe weather events or grid failures. This is particularly beneficial for critical services such as sanitation systems, public EV fleets and emergency shelters.
• Energy management and electrification — As energy usage goes up due to increasing electrification, and utility rates become more volatile, on-site solar can allow public organizations to shield their operational budgets from unpredictable energy costs. And for those transitioning government vehicle fleets to EV models, solar is also a great avenue to avoid strain on the local grid as well as to secure a low-carbon source of power for EV charging.
• Economic development and community engagement — Investments in sustainable infrastructure like solar position public-sector organizations to respond to changing population demands, new climate objectives and pressures, and the ever-increasing drive for economic growth, all while creating much-needed budgetary stability. Solar power can also facilitate new revenue streams through net metering agreements with local utilities, while enabling carbon-neutral investments into sustainable infrastructure that attract new residents and investors.

ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS THROUGH SOLAR INVESTMENT

Smart solar energy investments are about more than just installing solar panels. It's about aligning your solar project with your organization's wider goals and capturing every available benefit. The first step is finding the right partner, who can help you design a custom solar solution that meets your community’s needs — on time and on budget.

Harness the power of solar to transform your local government operations. Schneider Electric’s approach to solar takes your broader infrastructure goals into account, utilizing your energy savings to make your goals a reality. Access our on-demand course "Creating Community Impact with Solar Power" now to begin your journey toward sustainable transformation.