MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - In October, Meridian Township worked with Absolute Solar to install two solar arrays in the Township. One solar array was installed at the fire station on Okemos Road, and the other at the Marketplace on the Green pavilion next to Meridian Mall.

On the Meridian Township website, it states that the Township has a goal of obtaining 25 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2025. Solar panels help to produce renewable energy by using sunlight.

"The Township has an [ultimate] goal for Municipal operations to be 100 percent from renewable energy," explained a Meridian Township spokesperson.

The installation of the two solar panels were made possible by a $100,000 grant from the federal government.

Each solar array produces electricity 100 percent from renewable energy with rooftop and ground mount solar panels.

According to Rob Kaercher and Dan Bacon from Absolute Solar, the solar array at the fire station has 114 320 watt panels, and has 36.04 kilowatts of energy. The solar panels are connected by anchors to the roof deck board with rails attached. The solar panels are expected to produce around 44,000 kilowatts of energy per year, and save the Township almost $6,000 a month. Over a 25 year span, the solar panels at the fire station will save $196,000.

The solar array at the Marketplace on the Green pavilion will have 12 panels with 4 kilowatts, and produce about 4,900 kilowatt hours per year.

The Township has been approved for a 300,000 dollar grant from the federal government in 2021. A future solar array is currently being planned to be at the Township service center, and will have over 100 kilowatts of energy.

For more information, visit the Meridian Township website at meridian.mi.us.