GHG Emissions, Industrial, Solar  -  July 17, 2024

Iowa Buildings Add Solar Panels

Polk County Supervisors in Iowa approved funding for the first phase of the installation of solar panels on county-owned buildings. 

The $2.3 million dollar investment will be a major step forward in the effort to reduce the county’s carbon footprint 90% by 2040.

The first phase of the solar initiative will pay for the installation of solar panels at three locations: Polk County Administration, North Side Community Center and River Place. This investment will result in an energy savings of $5.1 million over the next 30 years at these three facilities alone.

“This is Polk County leading the way on investing in energy savings and reducing our carbon footprint,” said Polk County Administrator John Norris in a statement. “Not only will this result in energy cost savings for taxpayers for years to come, but it signals our commitment to transitioning from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy.”

Polk County’s climate action team is also weighing other investments to reduce the county’s carbon footprint, which include enhanced HVAC systems at facilities, replacing county-owned vehicles with an electric vehicle (EV) fleet and installation of EV charging stations.

The first phase of the solar panels will be installed starting in August.