The state’s largest single-floor commercial building could become its largest solar panel field.

The city is looking to obtain federal stimulus funds to install a solar electric generating field on the 685,000-square foot roof of the Airport Business Center, the former Leesona complex at 333 Strawberry Field Road.

“When we first moved in here we used to drive prospective tenants from the one end of the building to another by car,” said John Laramee, co-owner of the complex.

The complex spans 15 acres, or approximately 15 football fields of space.

“They have got an immense amount of roof space and if we are able to get federal stimulus funding under the net metering law it would be an unbelievable opportunity,” Mayor Scott Avedisian said yesterday.

Net metering is an electricity policy for consumers who own renewable energy facilities, such as wind, solar power or home fuel cells. Net metering enables customers to use their own generation to offset their consumption over a billing period by allowing their electric meters to turn backwards when they generate electricity in excess of the their demand.

“We have looked into this idea many times but it was not economically feasible, but with the stimulus money this could make sense,” said Don Wignall, co-owner of the complex.

There is an energy formula that would be applied to the excess energy produced by the solar panels that would be sold to the utility company.

“There needs to be a cooperative agreement between private businesses and the city to share in any revenues from the sale of the energy,” said Wignall.

Wignall said that these details are just starting to be discussed and they are only at the tip of the iceberg in terms of figuring them out. He said the pricing structure would be similar to those used with wind turbine energy.

While addressing the West Bay League of Women Voters at a luncheon last Tuesday, Mayor Avedisian discussed the connection in Warwick between ecology and economy. During which he introduced this idea of a solar field.

Wignall said that the projected amount of energy the solar field could generate is 2.4 megawatts and would cost $10 million to $12 million to build. He noted that while the roof space would work well for a field, they also have four acres of vacant parking space that could be used as well.

“The cost to do a project like this has gone down 20 percent over the past year, but if no one does it, it will go back up,” Wignall said of the stimulus funds.

In another effort to improve ecological issues, the city has started looking at ways to make their energy consumption greener.

“We just got stimulus money for energy efficiency and have been looking at putting energy efficient lighting in city buildings,” said Mayor Avedisian.

Avedisian told the league while the city is exploring their options, there are only six vendors in the state authorized to handle these types of projects that have the proper licensing.

“We have some positive things going on in Rhode Island so instead of killing them to start something new, we need to work on them,” said Avedisian.

When asked about what the proposed economic payout is for the new airport connector and train station, the mayor was quick to point out the complexities of the new system. The trains cannot simply turn around so they have to go to the layover facility in Pawtucket overnight.

“Amtrak has yet to commit to putting in stops, but the Providence station is falling apart,” said Avedisian.

While it would benefit Warwick to have Amtrak a part of the new station, that is not the main focus at this time. Getting trains from Connecticut, Long Island and New York City would make the station a centrally located hub to Boston.

“The track is available,” said Avedisian.

Avedisian said that privatizing the sewer authority would not be a long-term solution for the city. He noted the situation that Cranston is currently facing; they cannot have public meetings about sewer rates because a privatized company is in control.

“Once the resource is gone and the asset is sold, you are left with nothing,” said Avedisian.

Councilwoman Helen Taylor (D-Ward 3) asked the mayor about what kind of plan the city is currently involved with in regards to the Rocky Point Foundation, a nonprofit group looking to preserve all of the former park property.

“The best chance would be to have the foundation go into bankruptcy court and make a bid,” said Avedisian.

With the money the foundation can raise on its own, help from the Department of Environmental Protection and the $1.6 million the city has in back taxes, Avedisian thinks it might be enough to cobble together an offer.

“The good thing about the foundation is that beyond preservation the money raised is not committed to just purchasing the land, but to improve it,” said Avedisian.

He went on to say that there are several other ideas that are being floated by the city for use of the land. A religious based group submitted a proposal that would build houses, duplexes, nursing homes and a cemetery. It would be a place for someone to move in at any age and move through the community as they went through their lives, eventually to be buried there.

A LWV member asked if there could be anything done to utilize the property for ferry boats and water taxis.

Warwick has recently been in discussions with East Greenwich about consolidating harbormasters.

“The East Greenwich harbormaster’s boat caught fire and we are looking into a contract with E.G. about consolidating,” said Avedisian.

He said that those contract discussions could also include water transit.

The mayor also discussed the changes made to the city’s recycling program over the past several years.

“Before we changed the recycling program everyone said it wouldn’t work,” Avedisian said of the automated collections.

Now every home looks the same. People are not throwing trash bags on their lawn, leaving them accessible for animals to get into and drag trash up and down the streets.

“It has cut down on our rodent problem,” the mayor said jokingly.

He told the group of about 25 men and women, gathered at Gregg’s Restaurant, that the recycling plan was initially met with strong opposition, but through a significant amount of outreach the city was able to inform the residents of the benefits of the new system.

“We have not had one workmen’s compensation claim (from this department) in three years,” said Avedisian.

The trucks are now fully automated and require only one employee to operate, instead of the two or three that they needed before.