Hamilton County leaders, including Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-Ind.-05), will celebrate the completion of one of the state’s largest solar panel projects at 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24 at the north end of the Hamilton County Health Department parking lot in Noblesville.
Heirbrandt
The $8 million project features 9,346 solar panels on building roofs at the Correctional Campus on Cumberland Road and three acres of county property near the main public safety radio tower on the east side of State Road 37. In addition to the solar panels, the county has also changed out all lighting to LED energy efficient lighting and converted the jail’s HVAC systems from electric to gas.
“Utilities are the county’s second-highest expense, behind employee salaries and benefits,” County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt said. “This project will save the county $13 million in utility and maintenance costs over the next 25 years.”
The county currently pays $1.6 million a year in utility bills for county facilities. The solar project will provide enough energy to power 38 percent of the jail complex and 100 percent of the Health Services building.
Wood
“This project isn’t about the right now, it’s about our future,” said Steve Wood, Superintendent of Hamilton County Buildings and Grounds. “This project will produce enough clean power to avoid greenhouse emissions equivalent to 10 million driven car miles.”
Project managers at Johnson-Melloh Solutions, the project contractor, will be on hand to demonstrate the live web monitoring of energy production and the benefits already achieved. County leaders will mark the installation of the last solar panel by signing and turning on the grid during the celebration.