SEQUIM — The city of Sequim was set to begin the installation of solar panels on the roof of the Sequim Civic Center on Monday, city officials said.
The project will see about 140 solar panels placed on the flat portion of the civic center roof on the south side of the building.
The project is expected to be complete by May 18.
Panels will be delivered today and Sequim-area drivers can expect some interruption on West Cedar Street between Sequim and Second avenues for several hours, as traffic may be limited to one lane.
The Americans with Disabilities Act parking and a portion of the sidewalk on the south side of the Civic Center will be blocked to cars and pedestrians; ADA parking will be moved to the south side of West Cedar Street.
On a sunny day, it is expected that the panels will produce 143 kilowatt-hours, city officials said. That’s equal to approximately 9.4 percent of what the building uses.
The solar array will be tied to the utility grid, officials said, so if the building uses less than what is generated the remaining energy will flow onto the grid.
City of Sequim officials said they expect the panels will help the city save about $3,700 on the Sequim Civic Center’s annual power bill and reduce the building’s carbon footprint by 21.7 tons each year.
The city received a $75,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce for the project, and the city will complete the project with $150,000 from the general fund.
