EASTON, Pa. — Easton City Council on Wednesday affirmed the city's participation in a federal program aimed at reducing solar energy costs and helping local governments expand its use.
The partnership with Solsmart will see the city promoting and developing solar initiatives — already a key component to Easton’s Climate Action Plan — to earn certain designations.
The company will offer advice and connections in the industry to promote more renewable energy, all free.
“Depending on the size of home, they can save anywhere from a few hundred to up to $1,500 a year electricity bills."Easton Sustainability Coordinator Brandon Sullivan
The company currently works with about 550 municipalities across 44 states.
City Sustainability Coordinator Brandon Sullivan offered a presentation on the program during Tuesday’s council committee meeting.
Sullivan explained that solar energy provides city residents with “clean, renewable and long-term investment options for energy, solar panels” and some substantial savings.
“Depending on the size of home, they can save anywhere from a few hundred to up to $1,500 a year electricity bills," Sullivan said.
That will come while they increase their home value, decrease carbon in the atmosphere, clean the environment and provide "residents a long-term sustainable option for investment in their home and quality of life,” he said.
'Provide help and support'
About 82% of rooms, about 6,000 total, throughout Easton are solar capable, Sullivan said, meaning the investment would produce enough electricity to make the program well worth it.
Sullivan said the solar market had been hindered by the recent passing of the President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” but emphasized how important it was to team up with organizations such as Solsmart.
Solsmart will remain, however, as it is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the International City and County Management Association.
“The goals of Solsmart are to provide help and support, to provide the assistance necessary for us to learn how to acquire the best solar, the best practices, and implement tax incentives that would incentivize solar producers and solar in our communities,” Sullivan said.
“It helps us remove codes and suggests changes aimed at removing red tape while increasing the resources available for cities and our businesses, and aims to spur local economic growth, promoting local options for solar and helping create and influence the job market.”
Easton’s Climate Action Plan aims to install rooftop solar panels on 20% of homes for low- to mediate-income residents by 2030.
But as of now, only 56 homes in the city have solar power.
'Make Easton a leader'
Solsmart designations — bronze, silver and gold — are reached by participating municipalities through earning points in categories such as permitting and inspection, planning and zoning, government operations, community engagement and market development.
According to Sullivan, Easton already has several initiatives underway, meaning the city likely will take only a few months before being certified with a bronze designation.
“It puts us in a unique spot to become the leader in solar in Easton or in the Lehigh Valley region through Solsmart."Easton Sustainability Coordinator Brandon Sullivan
Sullivan said few municipalities in the area are involved in Solsmart at present — Bethlehem is joining the program — making it an opportunity for Easton to be a sort of flagship for the program.
“It puts us in a unique spot to become the leader in solar in Easton or in the Lehigh Valley region through Solsmart," Sullivan said.
"And for us to join SolSmart, it will enable us as a city to be able to continue to use our resources properly, as well as get the free technical assistance and resources, additional resources needed to push for solar to meet the needs of our climate action plan and continue to make Easton a leader in sustainability and affordability.”
'Solar energy is very important'
City Public Works Director David Hopkins said a study conducted on solar power at city hall “proved to be a decent investment from an [return on investment] standpoint.”
Sullivan said the investment would balance out with energy savings in seven to 10 years.
Sullivan said estimates for solar installation at city hall fell around $140,000 to $180,000, with a larger investment proving better for returns.
The main issue, though, would be constructing structures atop city hall to position the solar panels.
An alternative pitched by Sullivan involved placing panels on the nearby garage, which would require some angling, but could provide plenty of power.
Using a Power Purchase Agreement, which can be helpful to fund solar initiatives, would require the producer, in this case the city, to reach one megawatt of power from the panels.
Sullivan said that was “nearing the top of what Third Street [garage] could handle.”
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said he looked forward to working with Solsmart as a path forward in the realm of sustainable energy.
“I believe that solar energy is very important, and any alternative energy I’m in favor of it,” Panto said.
