SURA jumps aboard city's solar project

SANDPOINT — With a GEM State Grant application signed, sealed and, if approved, earmarked for a model Solar Roadways installation, Planning and Economic Development Director Aaron Qualls presented his case to the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency on Tuesday.

Solar Roadways is a local manufacturing company that originated a solar panel product designed to pave walkways, cycle paths and roads. Owners Scott and Julie Brusaw are working with city officials on a public installation designed for testing and publicizing their products. According to Qualls, SR would donate its installation fee.

The state-funded $50,000 grant would cover the majority of the overall cost for the groundbreaking project planned for Jeff Jones Town Square. As Qualls told the Sandpoint City Council in March, the grant committee requires that matching funds of 20 percent, or $10,000, be in place before making an award decision.

At Tuesday's SURA meeting, he asked the agency to commit to providing the required match.

"The construction would be pretty quick," he told board members. "It would be completed by the end of this construction season. If we're not able to do it, it would end up somewhere else."

He suggested that, although SURA funds are already budgeted for the year, they could possibly re-allocate the $5,000 set aside for website development since the new city website has incorporated SURA's web presence.

"Arguably, there may be some city lot funds that could go to this project," he also said.

"My gut feeling is that we will get back (the funding) in terms of tourism. The halo effect would be amazing for the city as well,"  said board member Tom Bokowy.

"I don't think you can buy the kind of publicity this project would bring. I support it," said Jeremy Grimm, who attended the meeting by phone.

"We think this is going to draw a number of visitors," said City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton. "People are already talking about moving vacations to come to town to see this."

She also pointed out that Solar Roadways has already improved its prototype for the project. 

"The new prototype (panel) is all clear, and has more integrated LED technology. They can take any color in the spectrum and put it in there," she said. "There has been talk of using it for hopscotch and four-square."

"Ooooh!" was the board's collective response.

"Mr. Chairman, I think the only question is how to take it out of the budget," said Grimm.

Meeting chair Eric Paull said that a GEM Grant line item was already written into the agency's current budget. He suggested SURA use that unclaimed funding for the grant match.

City liaison Melissa Bethel said that she would find out whether such an allocation would require a separate budget hearing.

Board members unanimously approved matching funds for the groundbreaking solar project.