DURHAM — As of this week, the Durham's 120 kW solar energy project is fully up and running.



ReVision Energy flipped the switch on solar panels atop Churchill Rink and the Durham Police Station Dec. 23, and both have begun generating power. The solar array on the Durham Public Library has been online for several weeks.



The $410,000 project, which was nearly three years in the making, was possible through a partnership with Maine-based ReVision that required no up-front costs.



Now, several other communities have taken note of that partnership, which is relatively unique in Granite State.



Durham Town Administrator Todd Selig has discussed its project with Barrington's town administrator and met recently with a Hampton School District delegation. He also sent a copy of its agreement with ReVision to Plymouth State University.



The agreement says ReVision will own, operate and maintain Durham's three solar arrays for the next six years. Meantime, Durham will pay ReVision for any power the panels generate at a rate that doesn't exceed what it pays from its outside electricity supplier.

In the seventh year of the partnership, Durham can buy the solar panels and equipment for $130,500. Based on an estimated electricity savings of $13,000 a year, it will take the town about a decade to recoup the investment. The panels are expected to last 40 years.



The town also can choose to extend the current arrangement.



Another key piece of the partnership: ReVision can claim green energy tax incentives typically unavailable to municipal governments and nonprofits, reducing the overall cost.



“Our (agreement) is quickly becoming a model for others to use as a template,” Selig said.



Durham's project features a major installation at Churchill Rink that includes 390 panels on its south-facing roof capable of producing 99 kW of electricity. The 20-panel array at the police will produce about 5.5 kW and the 60 panels on the library will generate 15 kW.



Barrington has been considering solar power initiatives for some time, town administrator John Scruton said. The town is pursuing an approach similar to one Durham used requires no up-front cost for the installation.

The police station and the landfill-highway garage site are two possible sites for the ground-level solar panels.



The latter site was chosen, he said, “because it's a big flat space facing south.” But it's also a big energy user. Trash compactors and equipment in the highway garage also require significant amount of electricity.



Barrington selectmen are expected to consider two solar-related proposals early next month. One asks selectmen to place a question on the town meeting ballot to authorize the solar project. The other asks businesses to submit proposals for a possible solar partnership.



There is no set time frame for the project, Scruton said. If voters approve the solar question at town meeting, the work will proceed as quickly as possible.



Meanwhile in Durham, the town is waiting for two final pieces of its solar project to fall into place.



Websites showing how much power the Churchill Rink and police station are generating should be up and running soon, Selig said. ReVision also will install monitors in the library and police station lobby displaying that information in real time.