Solar Energy Project Underway In Madison County

A large scale solar array is currently being installed at the Madison County Agriculture and Renewable Energy Park on Buyea Road in the Town of Lincoln.

The project covers 12 acres and consists of over 7,700 individuals solar panels.

The solar array is expected to mean an annual energy savings to the County of about $150,000.

The project has been on the drawing board for the past 3 and a half years and was developed under a Power Purchase Agreement.

The County has agreed to purchase all of the power created by the solar array for the next 25 years.

It should be noted that the County does not own the array, nor are they paying anything for its installation. Madison County is simply purchasing the power it produces. Scott Ingmire, director of the County Planning Dept. explained, “When we started this project, we anticipated it would cover about 60 percent of the County’s energy needs. However, due to conservation measures and energy efficiency upgrades overseen by the County maintenance and the Board of Supervisors, we now anticipate it will cover approximately 73 percent of the County campuses energy needs.”