A sea of solar panels could one day shade vehicles at the Big League Dreams parking lot while helping reduce Manteca’s $1.1 million annual electrical bill for the municipal wastewater treatment plant.

The city is expected to spend $135,000 during the fiscal year starting July 1 on consulting services for a design and to help secure possible federal and state grants to construct a solar panel system that could cover up to 20 acres and cost $3.9 million to install. The consultant would also explore how the city could use carbon tax credits to their advantage through how the project is financed in the private sector.

Public Works engineer Phil Govea noted the lifespan of such a system is at least 15 years. The cost recovery of the investment it expected to take six to seven years. That means if power prices do not change and use remains constant (both are anticipated to increase, though), the city could save up to $9 million in 15 years after recouping its original investment.

Councilman Vince Hernandez suggested looking into placing some of the panels at the sports complex parking lot. Such a move would reduce the use of land surrounding the treatment plant that the city hopes to market for retail and business use to generate significant funds for the city as well as stimulate the economy.

The alternative energy plan was discussed by the Manteca City Council Thursday at a special meeting to go over capital improvement plan projects for the next five years.

The council suggested that the solar panel system could also help provide power to the BLD sports complex to reduce power cost there as well.

Hernandez has long advocated alternative power sources not primarily for their environmental advantages - although he does support that - but because of how they could reduce long-term expenses for city residents and taxpayers.

Mayor Willie Weatherford said he was skeptical that solar was the best way to go noting for a co-generation plant where methane gas - a byproduct of the retreatment process - is used to turn power turbines might be more effective. Methane is generated around the clock. Solar power is only generated during daylight hours. Currently the methane gas is burned off into the atmosphere.

Funding for the solar project would be taken from fees collected monthly on residential and business sewer charges. The goal is to try and eliminate and/or minimize future rate increases because of rising power costs. Savings could also help offset increases in other parts of the plant’s operations such as chemical purchases.

Govea noted that if South San Joaquin Irrigation District were to become the retail electricity provider for the city, it would take a bit longer to retrieve the cost savings due to the SSJID goal of delivering power at costs 15 percent below PG&E prices.

The SSJID has indicated they might even be willing to consider participating in the creating of a solar farm at the treatment plant.

Govea said a solar farm needed to help power the treatment plant could cover up to 20 acres. That would be about 40 percent the area of Woodard Park.