Sedona AZ (February 19, 2013) – In a SedonaEye.com Letter to the Editor, a Sedona resident writes in opposition to wastewater plant solar panels, a costly construction project with little or no return on investment:
I am opposed to outfitting the wastewater plant with solar panels, because it’s just another construction boon and a waste of money, which should be used to pay down the city’s debt.
According to the mayor, all the solar panels at the high school do not pay the full cost of its electric bills. So why spend lots of money on a project, whose cost savings will be minimal considering it will take decades to defray its original expense? Yet, regardless of public opinion, the Council will vote for the construction, which it will later use as a justification for continued increases in our wastewater rates.
In case you hadn’t noticed, the Council is using the wastewater revenues as a surrogate city property tax. Just take a look at the 2012 Annual Community Report.
Wastewater fees make up 20% of the city’s revenues, while the Council only spends 9% on wastewater operations. Where does the other 11% go?
I am baffled that the Council wants to keep on spending money on this solar project, the possible purchase of land on Cook Hill, affordable housing construction, further art installations, etc., when the city is in so much debt – a fact omitted from its illustrious annual report.
Henry Twombly 350 Arroyo Pinon Dr. Sedona AZ
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Our Mayor and Council are spending reserves/savings amassed since incorporation down to zero. They will only have enough funds for capital projects for the next year or two. The Wastewater Treatment Plant is financially self-sufficient IF no new projects are undertaken.
The City’s ongoing revenues barely keep pace with operations. The City’s budget forecast does not project a big increase in sales and bed taxes from business. Not spending money is the obvious answer.
It matters not to our City Council that the economy is in the toilet and businesses and residents are hurting. The people who live here are going to have to pay more taxes and higher fees. Besides the recent talk of a 1% sales tax increase, 10% annual sewer fee increases are planned for the next five years beginning with July 1, 2013 when the residential rate will become $52.07/mo.
The City Council has already authorized and budgeted big $$$ to update the Wastewater Rate Study of March 8, 2010. Lots of people are not hooked up to the sewer, so are not paying. The 60% of us on the sewer are prey.
I suspect solar at the WW plant is another “feel good” experience for Council. I have a friend in the large installation solar biz who told me about a year or so ago that because the WW plant was getting such a great kilowatt price from APS that solar was not worth it there.
Additionally, read Sam Milham’s book, Dirty Electricity. Solar and wind produce huge amounts of dirty electricity. Not so “green” after all.
Most of us learned at a young age you should not spend money you do not have.
The city should not spend money it does not have. Perhaps we can have a staff cut to provide the funds?
To answer Henry’s question about where the 11% of wastewater fees go we must look to the City’s practice of shifting money around.
The transfer of reserve funds to the General Fund to is not uncommon and lacks transparency.
The City’s sales tax bond debt of approximately $55 million is backed by sales taxes, not wastewater fees. Transfers out of the Wastewater Fund allow the City to pay the wastewater portion of its annual debt service of around $6 million from the General Fund.
Don’t know what people expected when you voted to incorporate but along with incorporation goes government. Have never figured out why the people in Sedona keep voting in the idiots they do so could someone help me out there?
That piping was found by Mr. Chamberlain when he was picking up litter on the highway near Sedona Winds and the wastewater plant. I echo his sentiment about why it is there? (See Mr. Gary Chamberlain’s litter pick up story photograph! https://sedonaeye.com/folksville-usa-sees-orange)
What is the purpose of that empty hose pipe? Did it have to do with the City of Sedona wastewater plant? What are the answers for why this pipe is there, what did it cost, and why was this project abandoned, and why is this piping system not removed? Mr. Chamberlain’s story picture lacks an explanation and this Sedona citizen is wanting answers too as I bet Mr. Chamberlain and his group and the rest of us taxpayers are too!
Thank you Sedona Eye for bringing this to our attention. Someone at City Hall should thank Mr. Chamberlain’s group for their work keeping our Sedona litter picked up. ADOT too.
I just wanted to share the response I received from Tim Ernster about the solar panels. Apparently I didn’t have the correct info, which he says was in the papers in January 2012, when the Council voted on this project. I don’t remember reading about it, but I’m trying to search SRRN archives. Anyway, here is his reply:
I read with interest your letter tp the Sedona Eye regarding the solar project at the WWTP. I wanted to make you aware of some information since the basic premise of your letter was incorrect. The City entered into a twenty-year power purchase agreement with Sun Edison. Under the terms of the agreement, they will construct at their cost a solar energy system at the plant and sell the energy to the WWTP at a guaranteed cost for the entire twenty years that is lower than what we currently pay APS. At the end of the agreement, the City can choose to extend the agreement, purchase the system at the market value at that time, or require Sun Edison to remove the equipment and vacate the site.
So, there is no public monies invested in this project, and it will save the taxpayers a considerable amount of money from the moment it begins operation.
In the future, before you write a similar letter, I encourage you to contact us so that your information is accurate. I’m sure you are interested in factual information and we are more than willing to provide it.
And he never responded to my 11% question? Will have to ask him again.