Press Mention Daily Memphian March 13, 2023
SACE Quoted
Solar panels are a first for Shelby County government
In this mention
Shelby County government unveiled its first solar array on March 14, 2023, capable of generating 216 kilowatts to power two county buildings near Shelby Farms Park. The $589,000 project received a 30% rebate through the Inflation Reduction Act. Pearl Walker, civic engagement coordinator for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, praised the project as an example of how communities can advance clean energy generation and build equitable energy access.
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STATE GOVERNMENT
Solar panels are a first for Shelby County government
By Keely Brewer, Daily Memphian
Published: March 14, 2023 5:45 PM CT
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris (center) prepares for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the site of a new Sustainable Shelby solar project near the Shelby County Construction Code Enforcement building on March 14, 2023. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Solar panels unveiled on Tuesday, March 14, are powering two county government buildings near Shelby Farms Park.
The solar array is capable of generating 216 kilowatts of energy — enough to power the county's Construction Code Enforcement building and its East Data Center.
About 75% of county government's greenhouse gas emissions come from its buildings, so this foray into solar energy is a way for the county to target its biggest in-house emitters. It's a first for Shelby County government, and the largest of its kind for any local government in Tennessee.
A rebate through the Inflation Reduction Act shaved about 30% off the project's $589,000 price tag. Environmental activists at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday applauded Shelby County government for taking advantage of the federal government's single largest climate investment.
John Zeanah, director of the Memphis-Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, said he hopes it's the first of many investments to reduce the county's climate impacts.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said solar energy is one way to save taxpayer dollars and increase resilience to the worst effects of climate change, which has "already affected our community with winter weather, flooding and increasingly severe weather that constantly tests our infrastructure.
"The fight of our lives is here, right now," Harris said.
John Zeanah, director at Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, said he hopes it's the first of many investments to reduce the county's climate impacts. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Shelby County prepares to switch to solar power for two buildings
If its solar energy supply falls short of demand during extreme weather events, the county will purchase power from Memphis Light, Gas and Water, but if it generates a
surplus, it can sell excess power to the grid for profit. Harris called it their "MLGW independence day."
Pearl Walker, civic engagement coordinator for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said this project will help local residents access more affordable, equitable and clean energy.
"We are called upon in this moment to be a part of a generational change for clean energy," Walker said. "Projects like this are an example of how we can pull together to get more clean energy generation and help us build a future we want."