Jan 18 2011
Barren land located at the backside of the Washington Court House Service Department will be used for solar power generation. Joe Burbage, City Service Director, commented that the city is not investing anything in the project.
The department is offering the land for the project, he added. He further said that the department would purchase the power that is produced at a discount of 15% as per the deal.
As per legislation granted by city council in January, the city can sign a deal with Solar Vision to generate and market solar-powered electricity. The solar power generated from the location will then be marketed to the city directly. Burbage stated that the solar panels will produce about 50% of the power consumed by the department annually. The solar panels would generate power in July or August of 2011, he continued.
The site on which the solar panels are being installed was used as a waste yard for lime sludge, a waste product of the water treatment plant, for 40 years. Burbage said that the land could not be used for any other purpose. He further said that significant portion of the solar panel construction is over and major electrical work is yet to be done.
The federal grant money is used for the solar panel construction. Burbage stated that the Solar Vision is the in charge of maintenance and management, and the city’s only duty is to purchase the power.