Port Orchard’s City Hall is nearing completion of significant renovations, which include the installation of a new solar array.

A steel structure is being built to support a 50-kilowatt solar array, designed to provide electricity to City Hall and its pump house, reducing energy costs and the building’s carbon footprint.

Denis Ryan, the city’s public works director, explained that combining City Hall and the pump house under a single electrical service was part of a broader initiative to streamline energy usage.

“The solar canopy was designed and constructed over the well pump house due to location,” Ryan said. “With the pump house located on the City Hall campus, this location provided the best optimal position to capture solar rays.”

Both buildings have been on a shared meter since the original construction of City Hall.

The solar array is expected to cover approximately 30% of the combined energy needs, based on previous peak demand data. The solar installation is part of a larger remodel that includes energy-efficient windows, upgraded insulation with higher R-value, and an advanced HVAC system.

“Not only has the city taken measures to reduce our energy consumption, but the solar panels will also provide a method for the site to generate electricity that will greatly reduce the overall cost to operate,” Ryan said.

The addition of energy-efficient systems like LED lighting and the new HVAC system will also offer long-term benefits.

“These upgrades will lead to cost savings in energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create a more comfortable working environment,” Ryan said, adding the new systems are expected to require less maintenance than traditional systems, leading to additional savings over time.

The project has faced delays due to supply chain challenges, particularly with building siding delivery. However, Ryan noted that those hurdles have been overcome.