Utah National Guard to flip the switch for huge energy savings
By Utah National Guard
DRAPER, Utah — The Utah National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton
and Gov. Gary Herbert will be switching the switch for solar-energy savings at a
ceremony Wednesday at the Utah Guard’s headquarters here.
The Utah National Guard’s energy-creation program includes solar and wind
power. On the roof of the Guard’s headquarters building are more than 1,400 new
solar panels that will be switched on at the ceremony.
“We are very proud of this, and all of our green energy projects,” said
Burton. “We seek to be good stewards of our precious resources and will continue
as an organization to seek innovative ways to conserve and reduce our
footprint.”
This solar project is one of 10 that are scheduled to be completed this year
and are estimated to save more than $10 million over the next 20 years. The
installation of solar panels in Draper will be equivalent to powering nearly 50
homes. The Utah National Guard and the State of Utah are leading the way in
increasing energy efficiency, reducing energy costs and improving the
environment and air quality in Utah.
“These renewable-energy sites will produce electricity for critical functions
in our facilities,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Swihart, nationwide
energy-program manager for the Army National Guard. Solar projects were funded
cooperatively with grants from National Guard Bureau and Rocky Mountain Power
and additional funding from the State of Utah’s Division of Facilities
Construction and Management. The solar project was installed by SolarCity, the
nation’s largest solar power provider.
