Hancock Highway Department’s new solar panels to bring savings, stewardship

Hancock County Government is paving the way for saving money and helping the environment with the installation of 133 solar panels atop its Highway Department Administration Building.

Leaders secured funding for the project through two grants. One is from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program from the U.S. Department of Energy, which awarded $77,620. In addition, officials are leveraging a reimbursement program that’s part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which will allow the County to maximize the benefits of its clean energy investment.

“The reimbursements from these programs will cover nearly 100% of the project costs, ensuring that our clean energy initiatives are cost-effective and sustainable,” said Miriam Rolles, an Administrator with Hancock County Government, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project earlier this month.

Morton Solar & Electric, based in Evansville, Indiana, installed the solar panels, which were made in the USA by Crossroads Solar in South Bend, Indiana.

A monitoring system allows officials to keep up with the solar panels’ performance and maximize the benefits of solar energy, saving money and making a positive impact on the environment. In just one month, Hancock County Government has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by an impressive 5.2 tons.

“We are creating energy, we are using our own energy, but if we have excess, we are selling it back to the electrical utility,” Rolles said, adding that the County aims for the building to be net zero by next year.