Solar Part of Cuyahoga County’s Sustainability Plan
Medical Examiner’s Office, Animal Shelter and Harvard Road Garage to See Energy Savings
CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH — The Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability, in partnership with AEP Onsite Partners, LLC, is bringing energy savings to the County through the installation of solar panels on three County buildings.
The following properties have or will have solar panels installed:
- The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter located at 9500 Sweet Valley Dr., Valley View 44125
- The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office located at 11001 Cedar Ave., Cleveland 44106
- The Cuyahoga County Harvard Road Garage located at 2501 Harvard Ave., Newburgh Heights 44105
“As part of the County’s Climate Change Action Plan, we have committed to adding more renewable energy into both our properties and the local grid as a whole,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “We want to provide energy savings at all levels of the County, and with inaction at the federal level, local governments have a greater responsibility to step up and act.”
Two-hundred and twenty-two solar panels have been installed at the Animal Shelter. The Medical Examiner’s Office is currently having 488 solar panels installed. Roof repairs on the Harvard Road Garage are currently being conducted, then 1,948 panels will be installed.
All installations should be completed by Spring 2020. The solar panels are expected to yield a total of 1,147,000 kwh of energy. The panels would account for 13 percent of the total load for the Animal Shelter, three percent for the Medical Examiner’s Office and 25-30 percent for the Harvard Road Garage.
Last Monday, Lakewood approved legislation to join the County’s power purchasing agreement and add solar panels to four municipal buildings. Cleveland Heights anticipates introducing similar legislation within the next two or three months.
“The work we are doing at the County level is achievable and can be done at the local level as well,” said Director of Sustainability, Mike Foley. “We’re encouraging businesses and communities to learn about the benefits of solar and potentially join our power purchasing agreement for further energy savings, just like Lakewood did.”
“AEP OnSite Partners collaborates with communities and businesses to put in place advanced, clean energy resources in a way that is both affordable and hassle free. This project will enable Cuyahoga County to add sustainable, low-cost energy to help meet their power needs without requiring them to own or maintain a solar system,” said AEP OnSite Partners Chief Operating Officer, Joel Jansen. “Providing advanced energy solutions, like solar installations, is the type of innovative, customer-focused approach that AEP OnSite Partners can provide to help communities be more sustainable.”
