Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Municipal Solar Project Installation
Springfield Township celebrated the completion of a new municipal solar installation with a ribbon cutting and public solar education event at the Springfield Township Administration Building. Among those in attendance of the ribbon cutting event was U.S. Representative Madeleine Dean, PA Senator Art Haywood, and PA Representative Napoleon Nelson. Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder and Chief Sustainability Officer Devi Ramkissoon presented a $250,000 Montco 2040 Implementation Grant awarded through the Montgomery County Planning Commission in support of the project.
“This is an example of government working for the people. These projects are good for our planet, good for our wallets, and good for our taxpayers,” said Representative Dean. “Because of the Federal Tax Credit as well as the County Program, and the State’s investment, a project that would have come in at around $630,000 has been completed at $151,604. That is a remarkable reduction.”
The project reflects years of collaboration among Township officials, staff, community volunteers, and the Springfield Township Environmental Advisory Commission, whose members have long championed practical, locally driven sustainability initiatives. Their advocacy helped lay the groundwork for a project that not only reduces municipal operating costs but also demonstrates Springfield's commitment to environmental stewardship.
Background
This project began with the Board of Commissioner’s “Ready for 100” initiative, in reference to the fact that Springfield Township was one of the first municipalities in Montgomery County to sign on to the “Ready for 100% Clean Energy” nationwide initiative and passed a resolution establishing these goals in January 2019. Further development came after the Springfield Township Environmental Advisory Commission’s recommendation to the Board to pursue solar energy in September 2023. Construction on the solar installation began in May 2026 and was completed in August 2026. The project was made possible through technical assistance provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Shared Energy Manager Program, along with support from federal, state, county, and utility funding sources. The solar panels should avoid 394,000 pounds of carbon pollution annually (equivalent to driving 441,000 miles).
The project comprises two solar energy systems, including 887 solar panels with a total solar capacity of 390 kilowatts (kW), installed on the Springfield Township Police/Administration Building and Public Works Facility rooftops. The overall $629,125 project will power both these facilities, as well as the Free Library of Springfield Township through virtual meter aggregation with excess solar generation from the Public Works Facility. Once operational, the two systems are expected to generate approximately 456,273 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, supplying about 89% of the Township's annual municipal electricity use, significantly reducing long-term operating costs while increasing energy resilience. The Township expects to receive a direct payment of $188,738 through the federal investment tax credit (ITC), $38,783 thorough PA’s Act 129 (PECO’s Commercial Solar Incentive), and $250,000 from Montgomery County’s Montco 2040 Grant Implementation Program, substantially reducing the project's net cost. Based on these incentives and projected energy savings, the investment is expected to pay for itself in less than three years.
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