MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) – The City of Mattoon is the latest community in Illinois to turn to the sun to operate a public utility.
The city has put in a solar installation to power its waste water treatment plant. Solar panels will provide 80 to 90 percent of the plants electrical needs. The remainder will be covered through a conventional connection with Ameren. The solar installation is on the treatment plant property at 820 South 5th Place.
“We’re going to save $5.3 million over a 25 year period,” Mayor Rick Hall told WAND News. “All of the sewage from the city comes through this plant. A lot of motors need to run. Really a lot of electricity it takes to do that.”
The city also uses solar for its indoor sports complex. Those panels are on the roof of that facility.
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