ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Signs the U.S. Army is serious about solar energy can be seen in the North Metro.
"This is a big project for us," says Brian Allen with All Energy Solar. "This is a broad Army initiative and we're honored to be a part of it."
It's the state's largest solar panel installation in 2011 and it can be found at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Arden Hills. The project is part of a larger, national push by the Army to become less reliant on the civilian grid.
"Anytime they can add energy efficient measures and produce their own power on-site it makes a big difference in the bottom line," says Allen.
According to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment it's not just solar power their investing in.
"It's not only net-zero energy," she writes in the Army Energy Program, a list of new, renewable goals and strategies. "It's net zero energy, water, and waste."
These are goals the U.S. Army plans on implementing in the years to come, but for the Prescott, Wisconsin-based All Energy Solar, they're pleased to be a part of a major military project.
"It's a great honor to be able to support our troops in the business we work in," said Allen, Vice President of the company.
The new solar panels will save the reserve center up to 12,000 dollars annually in electricity costs. The completion of the project will take place later this month.
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