By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Work has resumed on Ogdensburg’s solar project that’s expected to save the city up to $2 million over the next 20 years.

The original plans had to be modified due National Grid’s availability to make a connection to its system. Because the contractors must wait for National Grid approval, construction has slowed. Recent weather had caused a halt in construction, but in an update to the council, City Manager Sarah Purdy said work on the project is again “moving ahead slowly.”

Once complete, the 1.1 MW solar project will cover 8 acres of land and will be capable of producing 1.4 million kwh of electricity per year.

A total savings is estimated at more than $1 million over the 25-year period and could be as high as $2 million depending on fluctuation of energy prices.

The original plans had to be modified due National Grid’s availability to make a connection to its system. In an update to city councilors Purdy added that construction is “moving ahead slowly.”

Energy Equity and RER Energy Group obtained New York Research Energy Group (NYSERDA) grants to fund the project.

All maintenance and upkeep on the project will also fall on the investors and the city will spend no money on the array.

Under the agreement the city will purchase power at about 8 cents per kwh, that’s about 4 cents cheaper than the current rate paid to National Grid rate of 11.7 cents per kwh.

That amount will increase by 2.5 percent per year, while the National Grid price is expected to increase by roughly 3 to 4 percent per year.

While the cost savings itself appears to be substantial, there is also a large environmental benefit to the project. The city uses about 3.7 megawatts of power and the solar array will generate nearly one-third of that total.

One drawback of the panels is that they decrease in efficiency each year, with efficiency decreasing by .5 percent per year.