Indianapolis Housing Authority installs PV array at Laurelwood community

The Indianapolis Housing Agency (IHA) installed a 59 kilowatt photovoltaic array at its Laurelwood residential community for low-income residents near Indianapolis’ south side. The solar installation, which feeds directly to the grid, is expected to net the agency roughly $20,000 annually. It’s the first time that the agency has installed solar at any of its locations.

Unlike some residential and even multi-family residential solar power projects, all of the power from the project is being sold directly to Indianapolis Power & Light. Residents still have to pay their own electric bills, according to IHA Executive Director Rufus “Bud” Myers. But, “They receive a utility fee allowance from the agency,” he said.

The utility, for its part, is paying a premium for the power generated. The IHA is getting 24 cents per kilowatt hour for the electricity generated even though it pays 8 cents per kWh for the electricity it purchases from the utility, said Myers. “It’s the highest we could get under the contract.”

While the residents won’t receive the direct monetary benefits, or reduced electric bills through the installation, they benefit indirectly. The additional revenue generated by the array will help IHA pay for maintenance and operations, Myers said.

This is becoming increasingly important as Myers anticipates future cuts to the federal budget. “We’re going to get less money to maintain systems at public housing. We’ve got to look at other funds that may assist and this is one way to do that,” he said.

While it’s the first time IHA has installed solar, don’t expect it to be the last. “We don’t have any specific or definite plans right now, but it’s one of the things that will be considered and we’ll do when it makes economic sense,” Myers said.

The project, installed by Johnson Melloh Solutions, was partially funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Housing and Urban Development funds, according to Myers. The solar array was installed after the agency did other energy savings retrofits through the program, including installing a green roof and rainwater recycling system, which waters gardens at the apartments.