BORDERLAND

Maumee solar firm sues Toledo in contract spat

8/15/2013

A Maumee firm that joined the city of Toledo to build a solar energy field in East Toledo claims the city owes it $210,560.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, IPS Energy Ventures LLC, 1650 Indian Wood Circle, alleges the city breached its contract by failing to compensate it for the difference between the amount IPS sold the federal solar renewable energy certificates created by the project for in 2012 and the rate agreed upon by Toledo.

In December, 2010, IPS agreed to install and operate the $5.2 million solar facility next to the Collins Park Water Treatment Plant. The contract called for the city to purchase electricity generated by the plant and to make up any shortfall in the sale of the energy credits, the suit claims.

City spokesman Jen Sorgenfrei said Wednesday that the city had not yet received the complaint, “but we’ll respond accordingly through the court once it is received.”

The case has been assigned to Judge Gene Zmuda.