The canopies have more than 2,600 solar panels on top, which will supply up to 95% of the Civic Center’s electrical needs for at least the next 15 years.

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - A ribbon cutting was held Friday afternoon for the Decatur Civic Center parking lot solar canopy project, a new clean energy and cost-cutting measure for the city.

Six solar canopies were constructed in the Decatur Civic Center parking lot. The canopies have more than 2,600 solar panels on top, which will supply up to 95% of the Civic Center’s electrical needs for at least the next 15 years.

Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe called the project a "no-brainer" for the city. 

“It produces clean energy, saves taxpayers significant money, and the city was responsible for none of the construction or ongoing maintenance costs; that is the definition of a win-win for our community," Wolfe said in a July 18 press release. 

The $5 million construction cost was fully covered by the contractor, who owns and maintains the system. 

The City of Decatur has agreed to purchase power from the system at a fixed kilowatt per hour cost for 15 years, which will save taxpayers an estimated $120,000 annually.

An additional solar canopy will eventually be installed in the Civic Center parking lot, which will power the Senator Severns Transit Center. 

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