News

Solar panel installation slated to begin at Nock

By Lynne Hendricks
Staff Writer
Published: July 13, 2009

NEWBURYPORT — Approximately 2,600 solar panels were delivered to the Nock Middle School last week in preparation for installation atop the school as early as today.

According to Interim Superintendent Deirdre Farrell, the boxes of equipment and panels began arriving last Monday, July 6, as part of Framingham-based Ameresco Inc.'s mobilization at the site.

"The electricians with PEC (Professional Electrical Contractors) have been here for the past week," said Farrell. "They'll be installing that over the summer, but there are two very large containers here with other kinds of equipment."

With the mobilization, said Farrell, work installing the 500 kwH solar panel array on the rooftop "will really start to roll out."

According to Farrell, Ameresco and PEC are expected to finish the solar project by summer's end.

Ameresco took over the solar project after the city's first contractor, EyeOn of Colorado, failed to secure financing for the job. Since the state waiver was only applicable for EyeOn, which did not have to bid on the contract, Mayor John Moak was forced to put the public solar job out for other bids.

"They've been mobilizing since Monday delivering equipment, delivering panels, doing the necessary electrical work inside the building, and I'll look forward to them being on the rooftop by the beginning of next week," said Farrell. "Our goals and objectives from an operational standpoint is to implement the project and ensure it's done prior to the start of school."

Ameresco Project Manager Jim Walker did not return a call seeking comment on the company's solar installation, which is among the largest to be installed in the state.

PEC was originally slated to do the work in partnership with Integrated Energies, the fledgling company former Newburyport Energy Advisory Committee member Jeff Wootan was consulting for at the time he negotiated the solar contract for the city.

The association between Integrated Energies and Wootan, who also secured a waiver of competitive bid laws from the state, was questioned as a potential conflict of interest.

Wootan stepped down from his post on the Energy Advisory Committee last month, and has since moved out of Newburyport.