The City of Evansville plans to power more than a dozen municipal facilities with solar energy. WNIN’s John Gibson has details:
Mayor Stephanie Terry says the city will partner with multiple contractors to deploy solar energy systems over four years.
Included in the project are several of the cityʼs highest energy-consuming facilities, including Mesker Park Zoo, the Deaconess Aquatic Center, Swonder Ice Arena, and the CK Newsome Center.
Terry says solar power systems are also planned for critical public service facilities, like the Evansville Fire Department, Central Dispatch, and Evansville Animal Care & Control.
The solar project is expected to cost six-and-half million dollars.
Terry says the investment will be offset by energy savings as well as the federal Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit that will reimburse the city 50-to-60 percent of the total project cost.
The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility will front the initial expense and the city will reimburse it over six years.
Terry says the solar project is expected to reduce annual electricity costs by up to 35-percent over the 25-year lifespan of the systems.
The city council has already approved the project.
The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility will front the initial project costs.