Letter To The Editor From Jackie Taylor
Thank you for allowing me to speak at the board meeting, Dec. 18th. Unfortunately, due to becoming very emotional when I spoke, I did not voice all my questions and concerns.
I would implore you, as board members who represent the entire community, to do some research and ask questions before voting for a 12-million-dollar project. As evidenced by the community’s concerns, this is not a decision to be made lightly and with only two months’ notice over the holiday season. I believe this timeline was intentional to avoid too many questions and to ensure a hasty decision. Who wants to spend the holiday season researching a solar panel project? That is why I’m asking you to delay voting on this proposal until further research is completed.
I would like to voice some of my questions and concerns:
1) Are you aware of the lawsuit that Tremco and their parent company, RPM International Inc., were forced to pay $60.9 million dollars to resolve allegations that Tremco filed false claims in connection with two multiple award contracts? Now, they have suddenly reduced their bid for our roof projects by $200,000? Does this sound like a company with whom we want to do business?
2) The roof and solar panels have a 30-year warranty (which has been questioned) and the PPA has a 29 year term. What happens when the 30 years are up? We start over again at square one? What happens if the solar panels don’t produce as effectively years from now and we are still beholden to the PPA payments?
3) Have you studied the Letter of Intent? Particularly, the Contract Price Exclusions section?
How about the Maintenance of Premises section? Will trees in the park or cemetery shade any of the solar panels to be installed at the outfield of the baseball field? If so, will they need to be cut down? It looks like the area at the outfield of the baseball field is in shade. I noticed when I drove by that the snow hadn’t melted on a warm day.
These are just two concerns I have found in a brief perusal of this document. How many other concerns will be found in the actual contract?
4) Are there health implications with having solar panels approximately 50 yards from a playground, school, and daycare center? Has anyone looked into this independently, not just accepting the word of the salesman? As I mentioned when I spoke, I have a granddaughter with sensory issues. She loves to play on that playground, and she attends the YMCA daycare. She will also attend the elementary school. How will a constant noise, even at a level of 50 decibels, affect her with her sensory issues? How will it affect children without sensory issues?
5) What happens if school enrollment continues to drop and the school closes or merges with another school district? We are liable for this project for 30 years.
6) What happens if BAI Group or any of the other companies involved go bankrupt? We are left with hundreds of solar panels to dispose of when they are no longer useful. Solar panels are considered an environmental hazard, and it is very expensive to dispose of them.
7) What happens if a solar panel is damaged and leaks into the ground? This is an environmental hazard. Who is responsible for the clean up?
8) Did we learn nothing from the Texas ice storm about how unreliable green energy really is?
9) Has anyone checked with the YMCA regarding having solar panels in such close proximity to the daycare?
10) Do solar panels cause fires when the grass is very dry and the temperatures are high?
Our community has a wealth of knowledgeable individuals whom I’m sure would be willing and able to provide input into ways to make the necessary repairs and upgrades without spending $12,000,000.00. We heard from a couple of them at the meetings. There is a very good adage that you should live within your means. Our community cannot afford a project of this magnitude. I sincerely hope that you will find answers to all of these questions before voting to approve this project.
Jackie Taylor
Shinglehouse, PA