AUGUSTA — City officials have agreed to a deal with a renewable energy development firm in an effort to have the largest city and school buildings powered and warmed more by the sun.

City councilors authorized a $52,000 contract with New Hampshire-based Revolution Energy to study the feasibility of installing solar panels, a biomass boiler and other alternative energy systems at City Center, Augusta Civic Center, Buker Community Center and the Cony High School/Capital Area Technical Center campus.

If the city agrees to a long-term contract to purchase the energy produced by whatever renewable energy systems the study recommends, the $52,000 would be wrapped into the energy purchase contract instead of being due at the completion of the study.

That, City Manager William Bridgeo said, would mean no upfront costs to the city, unless officials decide not to ink a long-term energy purchase agreement. If they don’t, the city will owe the $52,000 for the study.

The energy systems, even though they would be installed at the city and school buildings, would remain owned by Revolution Energy.

It remains to be seen exactly which systems would be installed.

That’s the purpose of the study authorized by councilors in a unanimous vote late last week: to examine the feasibility of different energy-producing technologies at each of the sites.

Responding to criticism from residents for choosing a firm based outside Maine, city officials noted Revolution would partner with Maine-based companies on the project — such as Brunswick-based New England Energy Solutions and Biddeford-based Shift Energy — and also employ Maine workers on the job if the city agrees to have the systems installed.

“That’s a very valid concern,” Councilor Patrick Paradis said. “They did indicate they would be employing Maine people, and working with Maine companies.”

Mike Behrmann, a principal of Revolution Energy, said they would likely employ multiple forms of technology in an effort to help heat and power Augusta’s public buildings at a lower cost than the current, conventional energy sources.

Behrmann said the city and firm would agree to a per-BTU price. He noted the firm would only get paid when the systems provide power.

He said the firm’s contracts are typically for around 10 years.

The systems would supplement, but not replace, the primarily oil-based energy systems currently in place.

The systems could include rooftop or ground-mounted solar panels to produce electricity or heat water; exterior wall-mounted solar panels at the Cony/CATC campus for heating air; a biomass pellet boiler at Buker; or other systems, according to Bob LaBreck, facilities and systems manager for the city, chairman of a subcommittee which recommended Revolution’s proposal.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com