Economic Recovery Funds Solar Energy Expansion on Wayne National Forest in Ohio

Economic Recovery funds allow Wayne National Forest to increase solar energy production to 50% of requirements for main office building!

The Wayne National Forest was already setting an example in southeastern Ohio with its solar panels, but now the office's solar energy program will be expanded thanks to funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Wayne began its Solar Energy Program in 2007, by installing a 20-panel solar system. Last year, the Forest added 30 more panels to bring the total to 50. The current system is generating 7% of the facilities energy needs. According to Forest Engineer Steve Marchi, once the new expansion is completed later this summer, up to fifty-percent of the Wayne National Forest headquarters building will be powered by the sun during the summer months. This is an increase of over 40-percent and further reduces our carbon footprint.

The Wayne awarded a $398,000 contract to the Ohio-based D.J. Group from Beverly, Ohio. The contractor, a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business is being hired to purchase and install 250 additional solar panels to the roof top of the Wayne National Forest Headquarters building, bringing the total to 300 solar panels. The federal government estimates four jobs will be created by the Wayne National Forest six-month project that gives business to Ohio's growing solar industry.

Marchi is proud of the Forest's willingness to take the extra steps to increase their energy efficiency. He notes that with the onset of the Wayne's solar energy program, it has become part of the state's solar revolution and was included in the Ohio Solar Tour, where the Forest launched the 2008 event for southeastern Ohio.