by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE: Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted on my blog as part of a partnership between LarryInFishers.com and the Hamilton County Reporter.  Views expressed are those of Fred Swift and do not necessarily reflect the views of LarryInFishers.com) 

Solar energy appears to be a big part of future electric power production. Will Hamilton County be in the lead in making use of this technology? Right now it’s in the hands of the County Council which has had a request for funding a solar system since June.

County Commissioners have asked the Council to approve spending about $8 million on solar panels and equipment that will convert collected heat to electric power for supplying lighting, heating and air conditioning at the county Corrections Complex and Health Department. Advocates of solar power make a strong case for this seemingly stable source of energy. Other governmental entities including the Indianapolis Airport, Sheridan Schools, Ben Davis Schools and the City of North Vernon have gone to this system, apparently with favorable results.

A question that often arises is, what happens when we have cloudy weather for several days? Apparently the answer is found in storage of power for just such times. But, certainly there could be a time when auxiliary electric power might have to be called upon.

Another question arises over the matter of cost recovery. Officials say the county currently pays nearly $800,000 a year in utility bills. Most of this money commissioners say would be used to repay the $8.1 million that the vendor, Johnson-Melloh Company, will charge for the solar energy system the county needs.

The solar panels, usually mounted on open ground, which amounts to a ‘panel farm,’ reportedly last at least 40 years, and still convert 80 percent of sunlight at the end of that time.

Given the good reviews, one might ask why the county does not go with this technology? As County Councilman Steve Schwartz has said, “it’s a no brainer.” But, Schwartz does not always speak for a majority of the council. Some of his fellow members express caution for one reason or another.

It is the council’s job to be cautious with public money, and there could also be just a little internal politics involved. Some council members are not always in step with ideas advanced by county commissioners.

Let’s hope this case is a matter of wanting cautious and careful study, and not anything else. When a proven plan for saving money comes along, county government should seriously consider taking advantage of it.