Macomb, IL – The lack of enough grant money will likely keep The Elms nursing home from "going solar."
Earl Godt is on the Building and Grounds committee of the county board.
He was investigating whether solar power could help lower the electric bill for the nursing home. He says the cost now is between $8,000 and $14,000 per month.
However, he found that it would cost about $4 million to set up solar panels that would meet the demand. And, available grants would only meet one-fourth of that cost.
He says estimates project that it would take between 14 and 17 years for the project to pay back its cost. He says that's a little too much to ask of the taxpayers at this time.
He says the county is still investigating purchasing power from different generators and having it delivered over the Ameren lines.