Bootheel communities, school districts adding solar power to help cut costs

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Larry Bradford approached local mayors with an offer even he admits sounds too good to be true.

His company, Southern Solar Systems, based in Huntsville, Alabama, offered to install solar panels, then lease them to cities.

"They have no cash investment and no risk. We own and operate the system and lease it to them and we split the savings from the solar system 50-50 with them," Bradford said. "It's a win-win, we think."

The company was able to make the offer, Bradford explained, because it received some special federal grants in 2011 that made it possible to lease the equipment to produce solar power to not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and schools. In return the company can take advantage of tax credits and depreciation allowed by the Internal Revenue Service.

"We got grandfathered in on a sizable amount of grant money," Bradford said.

Bradford said he wanted Southern Solar Systems to help small communities and schools.

The Bootheel of Missouri was a logical target, not only because it was rural, but it is also not too far from home. In addition, Missouri's solar rebate program offered by Ameren and K.C. Power and Light, providing what he described as a "sizable rebate of $2 a watt" for the solar project, made it a profitable venture for his company.

The company installed 30 individual systems in the Bootheel area. There are 22 under the lease program including the cities of Portage-ville, Gideon and Holcomb along with the Gideon School District, with the remainder sales to cash customers.

Each system is capable of producing 20 to 25 kilowatts of electricity.

Typically, a 25-kilowatt system would power the annual electrical needs of two to three houses, Bradford said. He estimated a savings could run from $6,000 to $7,000 to as much as $14,000 annually for each system.

"[The savings] is not a tremendous amount of money for them but every little bit helps," he said. "And it is at no investment and no risk."

The savings is what attracted the city of Portageville to Bradford's proposal to use solar power for some city operations.

"The tax base isn't going up and we saw this as a way to save some money," said Portageville Mayor Denis McCrate.

McCrate said the city has installed 10 solar panel units. There are panels operating at the city's sewer treatment plant, water department, city hall and fire station, as well as helping run three city wells.

Those savings from the solar operation should get bigger, McCrate said, because the savings predicted by the company are based on today's electrical rates, a rate he foresees increasing.

While not all residents have noticed the blue square panels placed around town, including the city's Meatte Family Memorial Park, those who have like the idea, the mayor said.

"I believe this is a good move for the city," McCrate said.

Pertinent address:

Portageville, Mo.