Bids Are Open To Install Solar Panels on Lower Providence Public Works Roof

Five bids to add a solar panel array on the roof of a public works garage building were opened early Wednesday in Lower Providence, according to The Times Herald.

Owen Hyne, consulting engineer for the Lower Providence township engineer Remington Vernick and Beach, opened the bids, which are set to affect the roof of the public works garage Building D.

The bids are: a $102,275 bid from KC Green Energy of Lancaster; a $64,850 bid from Spotts Brothers Inc. of Schuylkill Haven; a $113,910 bid from Silas Bolef Company of Norristown; a $98,000 bid from Arrow Electric Services Inc. of Maple Shade, N.J.; a $67,118 bid from Ingram Engineering Services Inc. of West Chester.

According to Hyne, the township engineer will assess the bids and give their recommendation to Lower Providence.

“We will review all the bids to determine if they fulfilled all the requirements of the bid package. We will make sure that there is nothing missing from the bids,” said Hyne.

The purpose of the solar panel array is to power the public works complex, and any surplus power produced can be sold to PECO, said Pete Eisenbrown, the township engineer. The Board of Supervisors approved this proposal in April of this year.

According to Eisenbrown, the price of the solar panels and installation is projected to be approximately $115,000.    

Grants that total $160,000 will pay for installation of the panels and power converters, as well as the engineering work, said Township Manager Richard Gestrich.