A waiver of the city’s commercial solar panel policy was approved in a split vote Monday by the Poplar Bluff City Council.
This had been a discussion item during December and January meetings.
The waiver for Empire Comfort Systems was amended following a motion by Mayor pro tem Jerrica Fox. It was approved by Fox, Mayor Shane Cornman, and council members Lisa Parson, Barbara Horton and Mark Massingham. Council members Billy DePew and Robert Smith voted against the measure.
The changes offered a compromise for both sides, Fox said after the meeting.
The city has approved a policy which would require users of large solar arrays to buy back from Municipal Utilities any power generated by the panels at the same for which they purchase power from the utility. The user would be credited for any excess power generated beyond what they use.
Residential customers are allowed to use the power they generate without paying a cost to Municipal Utilities for that power.
The difference is the size of the solar arrays and how the city believes federal regulations dictate how they are treated.
Empire had asked the city for a waiver that would allow them to keep the power generated without any additional cost.
The amended waiver states the power will be purchased at the essentially the cheapest rate rather than an open market rate, Fox explained. Empire previously asked that it apply to any future expansion at their 2450 S. 11th St. location, but it will instead apply to only the company’s current solar project.
“There was a little division within the council between the recommendation by Bill Bach (director of Municipal Utilities) and Empire’s request,” Fox said. “I felt like this was a good middle of the road (option).”
DePew said he voted against the measure because he felt like Empire was asking for too much, and that the original policy was in line with Missouri standards.