10-03-2025
Reading to begin $18 million energy efficiency project for public properties
Reading will begin construction on a project aimed at reducing energy consumption at public buildings and properties.
City officials said the city partnered with Schneider Electric, an international company with offices in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, to implement a Guaranteed Energy Savings Act, or GESA, project.
The project reinforces the city's commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency, the city said in a release.
'We are honored to continue moving our city forward in the most efficient way possible,' Mayor Eddie Moran said in a statement. 'And this partnership with Schneider Electric represents another important step in that journey. This transformative project brings us closer to our renewable energy goals, while reducing operational costs and enhancing the safety and comfort of our community.'
City Council approved the project in October.
City Council approves nearly $18 million in energy-efficiency upgrades to public facilities in Reading
The initiative aligns with the city's aim to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050, officials said in a release. The move is aimed at substantially reducing the city's carbon footprint and ensuring energy resilience.
The project, slated for completion late next year, includes comprehensive upgrades that will modernize city infrastructure for energy efficiency.
These include installation of solar-collection canopies at City Hall, the public works building and the Cedar Street parking lot. The latter will generate energy and protect vehicles.
The total of more than 4,300 solar panels is expected to generate more than 1.78 megawatts of power, completely offsetting electrical consumption at the public works building and offsetting nearly all electric consumption at City Hall.
The project also includes over 3,000 light emitting diode, or LED, lighting upgrades across 14 sites and improving downtown pedestrian lighting in five key areas to increase safety and security while dramatically improving energy efficiency.
Significant improvements to HVAC systems in four older fieldhouses at Pendora, Keffer, Schlegel and Baer parks also will be implemented.
'We are excited to embark on this transformative journey with Schneider Electric,' Bethany Ayers-Fisher, city sustainability manager, said in a statement. 'In February, we started the LED upgrades at City Hall. We're thrilled with the result and looking forward to a significant reduction in our energy cost.'
The initiative complements broader state and federal sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives, the city said.
The total project cost of $17.9 million will be funded in large part through anticipated savings of $13.3 million over two decades, officials said, bringing the cost to the city to $4.6 million.
This is consistent with funding for GESA projects, which comes mainly through capital recovery and reinvestment, a financing solution designed to distribute costs efficiently over time.
The project is also supported by a variety of other funding mechanisms including capital funding, federal rebates and renewable energy investment tax credits supported by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Officials said the upgrades will deliver substantial environmental and community benefits, such as enhanced park and pedestrian lighting for increased safety, improved comfort in municipal facilities and the adoption of net metering to optimize energy spending.
Additionally, the city said, the upgrades will mitigate the risk of volatile energy prices, helping to provide long-term budget stability against energy cost fluctuations.
The project's environmental impact is equally impressive, officials said, equating to the removal of 454 cars from the road, supplying energy to 273 households and planting 84,628 trees annually.
For more information, visit the city's website at
