Bootheel communities, school districts adding solar power

PORTAGEVILLE -- Larry Bradford approached local mayors with an offer even he admits sounds "too good to be true."

His company, Southern Solar Systems, based in Huntsville, Ala., offered to install solar panels, then lease them to cities.

"They have no cash investment and no risk. We own and operate the system and lease it to them and we split the savings from the solar system 50-50 with them," Bradford said. "It's a win-win, we think."

The company was able to make the offer, Bradford explained, because it received some special federal grants in 2011 which made it possible to lease the equipment to produce solar power to nonprofits, municipalities and schools. In return the company can take advantage of tax credits and depreciation that are allowed by the Internal Revenue Service.

"We got grandfathered in on a sizable amount of grant money," Bradford acknowledged.

Explaining he is from a small, rural community in Alabama, Bradford said he wanted Southern Solar Systems to help small communities and small schools.

The Bootheel of Missouri was a logical target, he continued, not only because it was rural, but also not too far from home. In addition Missouri's solar rebate program offered by Ameren and K.C. Power and Light providing what he described as a "sizable rebate of $2 a watt" for the solar project made it a profitable venture for his company.

The company installed 30 individual systems in the Bootheel area. There are 22 under the lease program including the cities of Portageville, Gideon and Holcomb along with the Gideon School Districts with the remainder sales to cash customers

Each system is capable of producing 20 to 25 kilowatts of electricity.

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