PEORIA, Ill. — The Peoria Park District Board of Trustees approved a power purchase agreement for solar equipment at four locations at the Board meeting Wednesday night.
Solar equipment will be installed at the RiverPlex Recreation Center, Noble Center, Lakeview Recreation Center, and Owens Center.
Board President Robert Johnson said that the work to install the equipment would begin as quickly as possible. Johnson also said that the PPD wants to make sure all four of the buildings are prepared before installations begin.
Johnson also added that solar is a long-term plan for the PPD.
“Immediately we won’t see a return on investment. Over the long haul . . . it’s going to save the Park District a substantial amount of money,” Johnson said.
Hawk-Attollo, the solar developer that the PPD has been working with, estimates a grand total of $900,000 would be saved over a 20-year span in electricity costs.
The solar equipment at the four locations could be the beginning of a new energy direction that the Park District heads toward in the future.
“As we get new facilities that come on board we will certainly look at solar and natural energy as well,” Johnson said.
