MUNISING TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WLUC) – New solar panels saved Munising Township hundreds in energy costs. The municipality held an open house on Saturday to introduce the renewable energy resource.

“It’s always good to have conversations with residents about what the township is doing, and anytime we make an improvement, we want to share it with our residents and let them know what their board is doing for them,” said Lisa Howard, the Munising Township Supervisor.

Howard says the system went online with UPPCO on October 1st. She says she’s impressed that even through a cloudy winter, the panels saved the township hall $800 from October through February compared to last year. Howard says that last year, during the township’s May elections, the building’s power went out and showed a need for another source of energy.

“Some say, ‘Oh, you can’t get solar from the cold weather,’ but you can,” said Joan Potter-Sommer, the Alger County Renewable Energy Solutions Chair. “Particularly today, they have bi-facial panels for the solar and they’re becoming for efficient.”

She says solar energy is an investment that pays off.

Howard says there’s a 40% tax rebate on the $80,000 project.

“The payback without the tax rebate is estimated to be nine years that we would save the $80,000 investment, but because of the tax rebate, we’re estimating that it’s closer to five years,” Howard said.

Potter-Sommer says the municipality is taking the lead with promoting renewable energies in the county.

“In the end, you’re gonna get your money back because the energy is coming from the sun,” Potter-Sommer said. “It’s not coming from fossil fuels, which with climate change we really need to downplay them, discourage them.”

Potter-Sommer says solar energy is a good choice for you, your children and the future.

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