City Redevelopment Commission Members Updates on Solar Project at Wastewater Treatment Plant

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 9:09 AM

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission conducted their February meeting Tuesday evening at 5:30 in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

While the meeting was scheduled to begin at 5:30 there was not a quorum with only two voting members, Mike Miley and Billy Ellinger along with Kurt Christiansen the non-voting school representative present. After waiting 30 minutes, voting member Tom Pedavoli showed up for the meeting and the Redevelopment Commission meeting got underway.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi gave a brief update on the Hoham Drive project in TIF District #1. He said utility relocation work continues while construction will begin later in the spring.

In TIF District #2, Surrisi said the second phase of the River Park Square project is scheduled to be completed this spring.

City Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson updated Redevelopment Commission members on the Solar Project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant on Oakhill. This project is partially funded by TIF District #3 funds. The million-dollar project was commissioned on February 9th with four of the five inverters. The next day a 2-way meter was installed by NIPSCO and later that afternoon the unit was turned on and producing electricity. Davidson told the commission, “During a couple of the bright sunny days we were actually going the other way. We were producing more (electricity) than what we were using.”

Davidson said the contractor has been back a couple of times troubleshooting and pulled some new wire to replace the wire that was scuffed and caused some fuses to blow. The Utility Superintendent said they are in the process of installing the communication cable so they can view the actual operations of the unit at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Davidson told Redevelopment Commission members he is looking into the possibility of getting a display screen on the city’s website so residents and businesses can see the operations.