Town of Menasha will rebid solar project

An article from The Post-Crescent (Appleton):

TOWN OF MENASHA — Plans to erect a 28-kilowatt solar system on the west side of the town's municipal complex are on hold for now for cost reasons.

The Town Board Monday rejected the two bids received for the ground-mounted photo-voltaic system because the town's cost exceeded its budget by $38,580.

"We're going to re-bid it," said Community Development director George Dearborn. The town estimated the system to cost $250,000 overall with two grants totaling nearly $150,000 and $100,608 included in a town borrowing package.

H&H Solar Energy Services, Madison, had the low bid of $288,465.

Originally, the plan had been to place the solar system on the roof of the town garage but Dearborn said the roof could not support it. The pole mounts caused the price of the system to increase, he said.

Earlier this year, two town businesses, Neuroscience Group of Northeast Wisconsin and SCA Tissue offices, installed large solar energy systems.

"We're anxious to make this happen," said Dearborn, who indicated the payback would depend on the final size and cost.