The Polk County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with 1 Source Solar on Apr. 22 for the installation of a solar field on eight acres north of the Polk County jail. The project is designed to supply renewable energy directly to the facility.
The initiative is intended to help reduce both environmental impact and operational costs for the county. The new solar field will generate one megawatt of power, which officials say is enough electricity for about 1,000 homes. After tax credits are applied, the total cost will be $850,000. The system is expected to offset approximately a quarter of the jail’s annual energy use.
Polk County Board Chair Matt McCoy said, “It’s important for the public to understand that our green initiatives must make financial sense. This initiative will save taxpayers $100,000 annually and just under $3 million in total over the life of the project. A win for the taxpayers and for the environment.”
This project marks phase II in Polk County’s plan to reduce emissions by 90 percent by 2040. Additional measures planned include installing more solar panels on county buildings, converting heating and cooling systems to electric sources, transitioning vehicles in its fleet to electric models, adding charging stations for electric vehicles, and using only LED lighting in county facilities.
“By pursuing these initiatives, we are taking important steps toward a sustainable future for Polk County,” McCoy said.
