The Wabash County Board of Health has given its approval to a proposed solar energy project for the Health Department building at Seventh and Chestnut Streets in Mt. Carmel.
The board voted Wednesday afternoon to move forward with the project, which will now go before the Wabash County Board of Commissioners for final approval.
Representatives from Tick Tock Energy of Effingham returned to Wednesday's meeting to review the project, which was first presented to the Health Board in September.
Eric Pals of Tick Tock Energy told board members that the proposed system's price remains unchanged at $68,752, despite some increases in equipment costs.
The project calls for a rooftop solar system consisting of 32 panels, designed to reduce the Health Department's annual electric expenses by approximately 34 percent.
The department currently spends about $13,000 annually on electricity. Pals estimated the solar system could generate approximately $5,000 in annual savings, with cumulative savings of around $92,000 over 15 years.
Federal and state solar incentives are projected to total nearly $47,000, bringing the estimated net project cost to approximately $21,800.
Pals said the system could pay for itself in approximately five-and-a-half to six years, depending on when incentive payments are received.
He also reported that Mt. Carmel Public Utility has approved the proposed electrical interconnection, eliminating the need for an additional transformer expense.
One remaining question involves whether the city will require a structural engineering review of the building's roof before installation.
Board members also discussed the system's monitoring capabilities, which would allow Health Department officials to track electricity production from individual solar panels.
Following the presentation, the Board of Health approved a motion supporting the project.
However, because the Health Department building is county-owned property, the proposal must now receive approval from the Wabash County Commissioners before contracts can be finalized and construction can begin.
County Board Chairman Tim Hocking would be responsible for signing the necessary agreements if the commissioners approve the project.
No date was announced for when the commissioners will consider the proposal.