The City of Reading officially broke ground Monday on a major solar energy project at the Public Works campus, marking another step toward the city’s goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050.
City officials, members of City Council, sustainability leaders, and representatives from Schneider Electric gathered at the Public Works Building on North Sixth Street to celebrate the start of construction on the project, which will include more than 4,200 solar panels installed across city facilities.
Mayor Eddie Morán said the project reflects the city’s continued investment in modernizing municipal infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, and reducing long-term operational costs.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents the continued work of our administration as it’s going to modernize city facilities, continue to improve energy efficiency, and make smart investments that will benefit our community for years to come,” Morán said.
The project is being completed through a partnership with Schneider Electric and builds on several energy-related improvements the city has undertaken in recent years through the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act program. According to Morán, those upgrades included the installation of more than 3,200 LED lights across city buildings, parks, recreation centers, and public spaces, along with upgraded sports lighting systems at multiple parks and new HVAC improvements at several facilities.
Morán said the city has already seen approximately a 15% reduction in energy costs at participating sites compared to its 2024 baseline.
Reading City Council President Donna Reed described the project as an investment in the city’s future and noted the historical significance of the Public Works property, formerly the site of Reading’s Outer Station rail hub.
“This is our investment. This is our hope for the future. This is our realization for the future,” Reed said during the ceremony.
Sustainability Manager Bethany Ayers Fisher said the project includes 3,180 solar panels at the Public Works campus and an additional 1,075-panel solar canopy at the City Hall Cedar Street parking lot. The solar canopies will generate electricity for city operations while also providing shade and protection for municipal vehicles.
Ayers Fisher explained that the system will operate through net metering, allowing excess electricity generated by the solar installations to be returned to the power grid in exchange for credits on the city’s energy bills. Those credits can then be used to offset costs at other city facilities, including traffic and street lighting systems.
According to Ayers Fisher, the project is expected to eliminate electricity costs at City Hall and the Public Works Administration and Garage by 2027 while saving the city at least $275,000 annually based on current energy usage rates.
She also said the city secured nearly $4 million in federal reimbursements and utility rebates to help fund the project.
“The higher these energy markets get, the faster our savings come through and the shorter our return on investment is,” Ayers Fisher said.
Ayers Fisher credited the city’s Environmental Advisory Council, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Penn State University, FirstEnergy, and Schneider Electric for helping guide the project from planning into construction. She also recognized the “Reading for 100” initiative, which advocated for the city’s renewable energy goals beginning in 2018.
Construction on the solar canopies is expected to continue through the summer, with officials hoping to activate the system later this year.
