Solar & Renewable Energy
Perkasie Borough has a long tradition of operating the Perkasie Electric Company - our own Public Power utility, locally owned and locally governed for the benefit of our residents and businesses. Because we purchase electricity on the wholesale market and deliver it directly to our customers, decisions made here at home have a direct impact on reliability, costs, and electric rates. Perkasie Borough is examining the feasibility of generating our own solar power by installing a "behind the meter" solar system, and continues to consider the inclusion of renewables in our portfolio of energy sources purchased through our membership with American Municipal Power.
Exploring Local Solar Power for Our Community - a Behind‑the‑Meter Solar Project Feasibility Study
May 5th, 2026 Update:
At their meeting on Monday May 4th, Perkasie Borough Council directed that a Request for Information for the Behind-the-Meter Solar Project be released to a number of vendors qualified to provide service in PA for Renewable Energy & Solar Solutions and Services. An earlier draft RFI has been updated to reflect the findings of a geotechnical analysis on the Perkasie Borough Landfill site and additional research on other potential sites. The geotechnical analysis was performed by the Borough's consultant. The final RFI is attached to this update.
At the meeting on May 5th, 2026, the Public Utility Committee of Council reviewed the structural analysis of a number of potential rooftop sites in Perkasie Borough. The analysis, conducted by the Borough's Engineer, revealed that the rooftops under consideration were not suitable for installation without remediation and costly structural work, adding to the cost and timeliness of the project. Accordingly, the Public Utility Committee recommended that rooftop sites be eliminated from the potential project scope at this time.
May 1, 2026 Update:
BTM Solar Project:
At the Monday, May 4th meeting of the Perkasie Borough Council, the Public Utility Committee of Council will present the final draft of the Request for Information (RFI) for the Behind-the-Meter Solar Project.
Final Draft Request for Information - RFI - Behind-the-Meter Solar Project
April 20, 2026 Update:
BTM Solar Project:
The Public Utility Committee of Council has been working closely with GDS to finalize a draft RFI (Request for Information) and distribution list. As always, the RFI stage is not intended to lock in final decisions as your views on site selection and any further diligence may shift priorities. The purpose here is to gather the budgetary information needed to support informed decision making. The Borough will request both portfolio level pricing to understand economies of scale and individual site pricing for comparison.
Please see the below an outline of the Committee’s current assumptions:
Sites – The Public Utility Committee has conducted a review of sites through geotechnical surveys, civil engineering studies, and GDS desktop analysis which will be incorporated into this RFI to gather realistic solar facility cost information:
- Option 1: Ground mount – Landfill
- Option 2: Multi-site Canopies
- Lenape
- Revivals Borough-owned Parking Lot
- 7th St. Parking Lots (Borough Hall & Walnut Street at 7th Street)
- Menlo Park
Developers/Bidders – As discussed, we will be inviting a bidder pool of two to three firms, including Exact Solar, requesting all participants are registered (including labor) in a competitive bidding site, like CoStars.
Specifics about the Landfill site:
The top site for a behind-the-meter solar project has been narrowed down by the Public Utility Committee of Council to the parcel owned by the Borough near the corner of Market Street and Ridge Road. In your packet, you will find an Engineer’s Opinion of Probable Cost (EOPC) of preliminary construction costs for remediation of TMP #33-002-053 (Perkasie Landfill) to support ballast-anchor foundation systems for solar panel arrays. Utilizing the Subgrade Assessment report prepared by our Geotechnical Department dated March 16, 2026, the Borough’s Engineer was able to develop the attached EOPC, which includes: 1) the installation of erosion and sedimentation controls for the entire parcel, 2) the clearing and grubbing of the wooded areas followed by the regrading of the topsoil and placement of permanent seed and mulch, 3) the removal and disposal of the large organic debris in the location of the landfill along with the excavation of two (2) feet of material followed by the compaction of the subgrade and placement of an impermeable clay layer and compacted granular aggregate fill, 4) the stabilization of the slopes surrounding the landfill area, 5) the installation of chain link fence around the perimeter of the entire site, and 6) the installation of all required buffer plantings. The quantities associated with each item were acquired utilizing aerial imagery and the results of the test pit investigation. The subject parcel has not been surveyed, and therefore, the quantities are rough estimates. The EOPC also includes engineering, design, and construction observation and administrative costs.
Engineer's Estimate of Probable Cost - Perkasie "Landfill" Site at Market Street & Ridge Road
February 2026
Recently, Borough Council asked staff and the Borough’s utility consultants to evaluate the feasibility of installing a “behind‑the‑meter” solar power system. This page explains what that means, why it is being studied now, and what factors are being carefully reviewed before any decisions are made.
What Is a “Behind‑the‑Meter” Solar Project?
A behind‑the‑meter solar system is a locally installed solar facility that directly supplies power to the Borough’s electric system, rather than selling power into the regional grid. In simple terms:
- The solar panels would generate electricity for local use
- That power could reduce the amount of electricity that Perkasie Borough must purchase from outside suppliers
- Savings could help stabilize or reduce electric rates over time
This is different from large commercial solar farms that export power elsewhere. The goal here is to offset a portion of Perkasie Borough’s electric load, particularly during daytime hours when power costs are often highest.
Why is Perkasie Borough looking at this now? There are two primary reasons:
- Long‑Term Cost Control for Electric Customers: wholesale electricity prices are influenced by fuel costs, transmission congestion, high capacity demand, and regional market conditions that are outside local control. Generating a portion of our own power can help:
- Reduce exposure to price volatility
- Lower peak‑period power purchases
- Keep more energy dollars circulating locally
- Time‑Sensitive Federal Incentives: Federal clean‑energy incentives created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) significantly improve the economics of solar projects. These incentives are available through a mechanism known as “direct pay”, which allows municipal utilities to receive the value of federal tax credits as a cash payment from the U.S. Treasury, even though municipalities do not pay federal income tax. However, these incentives are time‑limited.
For this reason, Borough Council has directed staff to move efficiently—but carefully—through the feasibility process, so that informed decisions can be made by the Borough Council while these federal opportunities remain available.
What Is Being Evaluated in the Feasibility Study? With assistance from professional utility consultants, the Borough is conducting a detailed feasibility review. The feasibility study will explore whether local solar could reduce purchased power costs and evaluate the community, environmental, and financial impacts. Key areas under evaluation include:
- Interconnection and Utility Infrastructure: making sure that the solar system properly connects to the Borough’s existing systems.
- Site and Infrastructure Considerations: making sure that any installation sites are a good fit
- Community and Neighborhood Impacts: checking for all and any impact on the community
- Legal and Property Matters: looking at potential site lease or purchase, easements etc
- Zoning, Permitting, and Local Regulations: understanding local, county, state permitting & regulations
- Environmental and Physical Conditions: considering potential site characteristics
- Commercial and Financial Structure: project lifespan, estimated costs and potential returns & savings
Each of these items would be addressed before any project could move forward.
Local solar generation is one of many tools public power utilities across the country are examining to manage costs and plan for the future. Borough Council is studying this opportunity now, while incentives are available, but before any commitments are made. As a Public Power community, your voice matters. Perkasie Borough is committed to keeping residents informed and engaged as this evaluation continues.
Perkasie Borough's Renewable Energy Purchase Portfolio
May 1, 2026 Update:
AMP Projects:
Bright Mountain Solar PPA
As you know, AMP is subscribing a Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) for the Bright Mountain Solar project. For the Bright Mountain project, AMP is recommending Perkasie participate at a level of 2.5 MW. Perkasie Borough's energy consultant, GDS, is recommending that Perkasie subscribe up to 3.2 MW. Both believe that the project will be oversubscribed, resulting in downward proration. At the April 20th Borough Council meeting, the Public Utility Committee of Council recommended that the Borough Council follow the recommendation of the consultants and subscribe to 3.2 MW. The following resolution was approved by the Borough Council:
Resolution #2026-25 - Bright Mountain Solar Power Purchase Agreement
Bright Mountain Solar Power Purchase Agreement
Potomac Combined Cycle PPA
AMP is subscribing a Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) for the Potomac Energy Combined Cycle. For the Potomac Energy Combined Cycle project, AMP is recommending that Perkasie participate for 2.0 MW. Your Perkasie's energy consultant, GDS, is recommending that if Perkasie sees value in the upside potential to hedge against extreme weather, a subscription to allow 0.5-1.0 MW in Potomac. At the April 20th Borough Council meeting, the Public Utility Committee of Council recommended that the Borough Council not subscribe in the Potomac project at this time.
No action was taken and therefore the Borough will not be subscribing to this project at this time.
Perkasie Borough is a member of American Municipal Power (AMP), a non-profit wholesale power supplier and service provider. AMP focuses on providing, managing and supplying power to more than 130 member-owned municipal electric systems across nine states. Perkasie Borough purchases a mix of power through AMP, including power generated through hydroelectric (water) and fossil fuel (gas & coal) facilities.
Hydroelectric power is the most prevalent form of renewable energy used to generate electricity and is far more dependable than other forms of renewable generation. Through a Power Purchasing Agreement with AMP, Perkasie Borough’s power portfolio includes hydroelectric power generated by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) at their facilities in Lewiston, NY and Massena, NY.
The electric grid continues to see rapid load growth from new data centers and generation supplies have struggled to keep up. The explosion of new load has resulted in much higher prices in both energy and installed capacity markets. AMP is offering two new Power Purchase Agreements to municipal electric systems which would allow Perkasie Borough to participate in the Bright Mountain Solar Project, located in Southeast KY, and the Potomac Energy Combined Cycle Project located in NW Virginia. Perkasie Borough Council is currently considering whether to join other municipal electric companies in purchasing these new generation projects in our power portfolio.
Perkasie Borough Council works closely with AMP to create a portfolio approach to energy supply as the best way to respond to the volatility that exists in the electricity markets. That means purchasing a range of power supply products that meet the Borough’s needs during periods of base and peak demand. Renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly important in the portfolio mix as Perkasie Borough works with AMP to hedge against the potential for even higher prices, and secure economical, long-term power supply for residents and businesses.