The proposed location for the solar pavilion in Gilbo Avenue in downtown Keene.
Design option 1 for the Gilbo Avenue solar pavilion would cost $1.62 million, the city said.
Design option 2 for the Gilbo Avenue pavilion would cost $1.69 million, the city said.
Design option 3 for the solar pavillion on Gilbo Avenue would cost $1.74 million.
City of Keene, Housing and Cheshire County reporter
The proposed location for the solar pavilion in Gilbo Avenue in downtown Keene.
Keene officials and contractors on Wednesday provided a glimpse at what a solar pavilion project on Gilbo Avenue could look like.
The Gilbo Avenue solar pavilion project will add a covered structure over parking spots on Gilbo Avenue next to the site of the Farmers’ Market of Keene. It’ll also have solar panels to generate enough electricity to offset downtown lighting and electricity costs, according to the most recent Capital Improvement Program. Construction is slated for next summer, Public Works Director Don Lussier said.
At a meeting Wednesday, the city sought public feedback on three design options for the $2.2 million project. Roughly $1.8 million — or 80 percent of the cost — comes from a Northern Border Regional Commission grant. The city will cover the remaining $440,000.
The wooden structure is slated to be 230 by 30 feet. It will have a 75 kilowatt solar array.
Of the roughly 40 people who attended Wednesday afternoon’s two feedback sessions, most preferred the cheapest option, Russ Bates, a representative from the contractor NXTGEN Clean Energy Solutions, told the Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday night.
The committee recommended 4-1 the City Council delay decision on the options to allow for more public input.
Here are the designs:
Option 1: Sloped roof
Design option 1 for the Gilbo Avenue solar pavilion would cost $1.62 million, the city said.
The first option features a south-sloping roof with a 15-foot height clearance on the low end and a 19-foot clearance on the high end. It will have gutters between the panels that drain down to prevent rain or snow from dripping into the canopy. The pavilion will also include LED lights for use in the evening.
The structure will have electrical hookups for farmers market vendors, food trucks or other community events. It’ll cost $1.62 million to build.
Bates said this is the simplest and cheapest design.
Option 2: Sloped roof with a flat sidewalk canopy
Design option 2 for the Gilbo Avenue pavilion would cost $1.69 million, the city said.
The second option is slightly larger and involves a sloped roof with a flat addition that covers the nearby sidewalk.
The clearance height for this design is between 15 feet and 17 feet. It will have the same drainage system, LED lights and electrical hookups as in option one. It’ll cost $1.69 million.
Bates said this design adds extra coverage for pedestrians using the sidewalk, but it requires more involved foundation work, which increases the price.
Option 3: A-frame roof
Design option 3 for the solar pavillion on Gilbo Avenue would cost $1.74 million.
The third option features an A-frame gable roof, with solar panels on the south-facing side. The clearance height would be 15 feet. It will also include the same water drainage system, LED lights and electrical service as the first option.
The A-frame roof would fit with the style of downtown, he added.
The main drawback to this design, Bates said, is the post placement which would make it more difficult for vehicles and snow plows to maneuver. Construction for option 3 is also the most involved of the options before the city. This design would cost $1.74 million.
Editor Liora Engel contributed reporting to this story.
Mason Rouser can be reached at 603-283-0725 or mrouser@keenesentinel.com.
City of Keene, Housing and Cheshire County reporter
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