The time to bring solar power to the town of Guilford is now. This summer, I was shocked when I received my electric bill. The delivery cost was higher than the actual cost of electricity. I can’t imagine how much of the taxpayers money is used to satisfy these costs. I realized that I had to do something about it, so I began to explore solar power. I asked people in Guilford that already had solar power, posted on Simply Guilford Facebook, and interviewed a bunch of solar power companies. I learned a lot in the process like it’s pollution-free and causes no greenhouse gases to be emitted. It’s more aesthetically pleasing than it used to be, requires virtually no maintenance, and even cloudy days produce some power. While there may be high initial costs for material and installation, the long term return on investment would make it worthwhile. Now, I have solar panels on my roof and can’t wait to see the results.

I’m proposing that all eligible municipal buildings including the town hall, library, community center, and police and fire stations in Guilford be outfitted with solar panels. It would be in the best interest of the town to set up a solar power committee to do a feasibility study and oversee the installation of solar panels. I would love to be a part of that committee. Going solar is a good way for the town to save money on utility bills and it’s good for the environment. There is a plan through the Parks and Recreation department to install stadium lights at Long Hill Park and for the pickleball courts. What a great opportunity to use solar stadium lights. This should save on running electric lines to those remote areas and save on electricity bills.

Julie Schlessel

Guilford