Centre County aims to purchase prison solar array to dramatically cut energy costs

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Several years ago, solar panels were installed next to the Centre County Prison.

Now, as the county moves to buy the solar array, officials say they are expected to save millions of dollars in future energy bills.

After a 2019 groundbreaking, the solar array went online in January of 2020.

It is said to be the largest solar array at a county prison in the state.

Before the prison went solar, its electric bill was the highest for all Centre County government-owned buildings, about 100 thousand dollars per year.

That led to a partnership with the operators of the solar array and this week, county officials move forward with spending nearly 568 thousand dollars to buy the array outright.

They claim it’s a huge bargain, based on both current and projected cost savings.

“If the county were to choose to purchase the system this year, the estimated savings would jump from the earlier stated amount of just under two million dollars to over four point one million.”

The solar array provides enough power for the entire prison, plus generates excess energy that’s put back into the grid.

Despite the purchase, county administrators say they’re still planning to be part of the alternative solar power purchase agreement that’s aimed at providing power to the county, as well as State College Borough, the State College School District and several other municipal entities.