Solar project includes made-in-U.S. provision

New Bedford’s plan to reduce the city’s energy costs by incorporating solar power includes a requirement that the solar panels and frames the city uses be made in the United States.

The deal was formally announced on Oct. 21, the same week that seven makers of solar panels filed a complaint with the U.S. Commerce Department alleging that Chinese manufacturers are undercutting U.S. companies by selling products at very low prices thanks to Chinese government subsidies.

The complaint calls for the government to impose tariffs on imported solar panels as a means of enabling U.S. manufacturers to compete.

Mayor Scott Lang, a supporter of the tariff proposal, described the made-in-the-U.S. provision as a non-negotiable part of the agreement with private-sector partners Blue Wave Capital LLC and Consolidated Edison Solutions.

Even when the higher equipment costs are factored in, the city’s energy savings are expected to be substantial: as much as $500,000 per year over each of the next 20 years, beginning in 2013. The solar arrays, which are likely to be sited on brownfields and rooftops, are expected to account for about one-fourth of municipal energy needs, Lang said.

The mayor said there is no upfront cost to the city, which drew on $80,000 in federal block grant money to develop its solar strategy.

A second stage of the project will involve businesses and homeowners. Consolidated Edison Solutions has agreed to maximize the use of local contractors for the project, according to city officials.