County makes solar power proposal.mov

Geauga County Administrator David Lair explains why the
Geauga County commissioners want to use solar panels to power the county's Department of Emergency Services and possibly the Geauga County Safety Center.
First, however, they have to find an alternative energy company willing to erect an array of solar panels between the emergency services department (DES) and the safety center on Merritt Road.
Comissioners approved a request for proposals for the project Tuesday. The project, however, hinges on the ability to get federal energy tax credits available until Dec. 31.
"The way this works is there are (energy tax) credits available to private industries providing alternative energy," said county Administrator David Lair. "Being we are a government, there are no tax breaks for a government entity."
The solution, Lair added, is for a private, for-profit company to erect an array of solar panels and sell the electric power generated to the county at a discounted rate.
The county would save money on electric power and the company would get federal energy tax credits, as well as boost its business.
The savings provided by the energy tax credits, and the profits made by selling electricity at a discounted rate to the county, should enable the private company to recoup its investment within 10 years or less, Lair said.

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• David Lair
• solar power
• Safety Center