On March 12, Hamilton County dignitaries broke ground on the $8 million solar project that will feature 9.300 solar panels on building roofs at the Hamilton County Correctional Campus in Noblesville and on 3 acres on the east side of Ind. 37 near the Correctional Campus.
The project is projected to save Hamilton County approximately $25 million in utility expenses over the next 25 years. Currently, utilities are the county’s second-highest expense behind employee salaries and benefits, according to Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman.
The county pays $1.6 million annually 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.
“This project isn’t about the right now, it’s about our future,” Steve Wood, Supt. of Hamilton County Buildings and Grounds, stated in a press release. “This project will produce enough clean power to avoid greenhouse emissions equivalent to 10 million driven car miles. Plus, it will be a great learning tool for thousands of school kids right here in Hamilton County.”
Johnson-Melloh Solutions, the project contractor, will provide live web monitoring of the energy being saved by the solar project. The county can share the information with local schools to teach students about energy consumption. Field trips to the solar field will also be available.
The project should be complete by late June. The county will make annual payments of $623,000 over 20 years at a 3 percent interest rate. County officials said utility savings generated from the project will pay the capital cost of the project in less than 12 years.
