Solar panels to be installed on Whitehall Borough EMS building

When the Whitehall Committee for Environmental Action was brainstorming ideas to cope with environmental issues, committee member Jack McCrea thought the borough could benefit from installing its own solar panels. An owner of solar panels himself, he created an analysis outlining the use of renewable energy systems within the borough, which developed into a solar project five years later.

“They use a lot of power,” McCrea said. “I figured they could save some money, plus, of course, help the environment.”

In the first quarter of the year, the borough will install a solar array on the EMS building located at 4470 Clairton Blvd. next to Whitehall Fire Company.

The 13-kW solar energy system is estimated to produce about 29,400 kWh a year and will save the municipality about $4,200 in energy costs during its first year, according to a news release. Elysium, a solar energy company, estimated the system will save the borough $157,750 over 25 years.

Although the borough will save over time, the project will initially cost $73,000.

The borough applied for Clean Air Fund grants but was unsuccessful. Instead, there was enough money in the capital project fund to finance the installation of the solar panels, according to borough manager Courtney Wertz.

McCrea’s original idea was to install the solar panels on a salt dome, but a consultant came out to inspect all of the government buildings in the borough and said the building that houses the Medical Rescue Team South Authority’s ambulance was a better fit.

Since the building has southern exposure and a newer roof, it was determined to be the best place to house the solar panels, according to Mayor Jim Nowalk.

Construction for the project is estimated to begin around March, Wertz said.

“We are ready to go. We’re really waiting on the snow,” Wertz said. “It’s weather-dependent right now, just with the heavy snowfall we received at the start of the year.”

The project was able to happen because of the workings of local government, Nowalk said.

“Because of the closeness between elected officials … the voices of people can be more easily heard,” Nowalk said.

After hearing McCrea’s idea, councilman Glen Nagy was able to get the borough to collaborate with Pa Solar Center, a nonprofit organization with the mission to expand the benefits of solar to all Pennsylvanians, and CONNECT, a nonpartisan nonprofit serving local governments in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Throughout the entirety of the project, the borough worked in conjunction with both organizations.

It took the borough some time to get the project off the ground because they had to figure out whether they were going to bid for the project or if they were going to look at a power purchasing agreement, Wertz said. The borough eventually put out a bid at the end of 2024.

Pa Solar Center was able to guide the borough throughout the entire process, according to Leo Kowalski, director of transformation.

“For a municipality to purchase something, it can be pretty complicated,” Kowalski said. “We will continue to work with them on navigating any questions that come up.”

Since Whitehall will be around for a long time, they can think about the future impacts of their decisions, Kowalski said.

One of the main factors that swayed Whitehall to go solar was the financial benefits. Borough officials recognized that electric companies were going to raise their prices, Nowalk said.

“Energy is going to become more precious and more expensive,” Kowalski said.

Throughout the years, the borough will also benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides tax credits to communities with environmental concerns, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

In addition, the solar panels will be placed on Route 51 where numerous cars drive by. Nowalk is hoping these cars will be inspired by their renewable energy source.

“Whitehall Borough is showing other municipalities in this country that this is doable,” Kowalski said.