A solar array generating the equivalent energy of a gas-powered car driving 2.6 million miles a year will be coming online in the coming weeks, powering the Lake County Central Permit Facility at 500 West Winchester Road.
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, the blazing sun reminded all attendees exactly how much energy there is in sunlight. The array will generate 1,452,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually, enough to power 200 homes for a year according to a news release.
Harry Benson, director of business development with Standard Solar, which will own the array, said the project took several years to come to fruition, with Standard Solar initially winning the request for proposals in 2019.
“It’s a testimony to the commitment of the county to take on climate change and make serious efforts to reduce their carbon footprint,” he said.
Benson said the array, made of “state-of-the-art” tier-one panels, is at a fixed tilt facing south. Surrounding the panels are tall grasses, which Benson said will become pollinator patches, helping attract and support the bee population.
According to county staff, the project came at no cost to Lake County since it was done through a solar power purchasing agreement. Benson said Standard Solar will own the facility, leasing energy to Lake County.
It’s also a “behind-the-meter” project, Benson said, meaning when it’s generating electricity, it’s “literally running the meter backward.”
Sandy Hart, chair of the Lake County Board, framed the ribbon-cutting as the beginning of a new chapter in Lake County’s “commitment to sustainability.” It wasn’t just powering the CPF, she said, but symbolized the county’s “dedication to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.”
“I’m really proud to see Lake County advancing our sustainability goals, which is a key priority in our strategic plan,” Hart said. “This solar away array will not only generate clean energy, but also demonstrate our resolve to combat climate change by increasing solar adoption and decarbonizing our energy sector.”
District 10 board member Jessica Vealitzek, chair of the Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee, echoed Hart’s comments. The project reflected their commitment to sustainability and the environment, she said.
“We are always looking toward the future, and how we can make a positive impact on our communities and the environment,” Vealitzek said. “The Lake County Board proudly supports partnerships and investments that are not only fiscally responsible, but environmentally conscious as well.”
Solar energy is now a serious business, Benson said, and he celebrated the shift. In the last decade, the amount of people in the industry has grown exponentially.
“It’s no longer me and my hippie buddies … hanging banners off of something saying … ‘Turn this around.’ It’s now a mainstream industry in America,” he said.
Such changing attitudes were critical as the impacts of climate change continued to mount, Benson said.
“It’s just unfolding before our very eyes,” he said. “Every year after year, it’s hotter. Wildlife is being changed. Their habitats are being changed. It is destroying all the wonders of the world, and we need to do something about it.”
The project is part of a broader 2020 Lake County resolution to reduce county government operations’ greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. Standard Solar is not behind a similar solar array project at the future Regional Operations and Communications Facility.
