ADRIAN — A closely divided Lenawee County Commission shot down the idea of installing solar panels at several county facilities at its Oct. 8 Ways and Means Committee meeting.

Energy consultant Veregy had proposed installing solar panels on the roof of the old courthouse, on the carport canopy at the old courthouse, on the grounds of the Maurice Spear Campus, and on the roof of the Human Services Building. The company estimated about $4.9 million in energy savings over the course of 30 years. 

Veregy’s proposal also included LED lighting upgrades estimated to save about $2.9 million over the same period, for a total of $7.8 million. The cost of the project was estimated at about $3 million, of which $640,000 could be covered by federal Inflation Reduction Act funding, reducing the county’s cost to about $2.4 million. Veregy said the net result, factoring in both savings and cost, would be a net savings of $3.8 million over 30 years.

Commissioner KZ Bolton (D-Adrian) made the motion to accept the solar portion of the proposal, saying the county would save money and should lead by example.

“The technology has vastly improved in efficiency,” she said. “Photovoltaics is a mature technology. It is no longer in the pioneering or experimental stage. Reliability, durability and performance are all more than satisfactory.”

Bolton said that solar panels continue to work in all kinds of weather, even when it’s overcast, and are angled so that snow falls off quickly. She also said the proposal was consistent with a previously adopted county policy of committing to good environmental stewardship.

“We will never run out of solar,” she added. “It is the most abundant energy source in the world.”

Commissioner Kevon Martis (R-Riga) spoke against the proposal, arguing that it was actually counter to good stewardship.

“The vast majority of these components are not recyclable and will enter into our landfills and into our waste stream,” he said.

Martis cited a 2021 article in Harvard Business Review that stated that “solar’s production boom has left its recycling infrastructure in the dust.” The authors of that article said that it costs between $20 and $30 to recycle one solar panel, but between $1 and $2 to send it to a landfill.

The U.S. Department of Energy states that although more than 85% of the materials in a typical solar photovoltaic module can be recycled, the process is nonetheless challenging. According to a 2023 publication from the Yale School of the Environment, the recycling rate for solar panels is currently about 10%. A variety of efforts are underway to change that, and the Department of Energy last year announced $20 million in funding aimed at research and development for more recyclable and longer-lasting solar panels.

The commission voted 5-4 against the solar proposals. Joining Bolton in voting yes were Dawn Bales (R-Madison Twp.), Terry Collins (R-Adrian), and David Stimpson (R-Tecumseh). Joining Martis in voting no were Nancy Jenkins-Arno (R-Clayton), Dustin Krasny (R-Onsted), Ralph Tillotson (R-Adrian Twp.), and Jim Van Doren (R-Tipton). 

In a separate vote, the commission approved spending $560,000 from the county’s capital fund for the LED lighting proposal. That motion passed 7-2. Voting yes were Bales, Bolton, Collins, Martis, Stimpson, Tillotson and Van Doren. Voting no were Jenkins-Arno and Krasny.

In other news, the county commission:

• Reviewed health insurance rates for 2025 for Lenawee County employees. The county will see an increase of 8.32% to its premium, a monthly cost of $44,766.16. The county’s 2025 budget had included an allowance for a 10% increase. Gurdjian Insurance reported the increase in the county’s premiums was lower than some surrounding group health insurance rates.
• Approved two additional utility operators for the Lenawee County Drain Commission for the Wamplers Lake Sewage Disposal System, the cost of which will be fully reimbursed by the system.
• Approved four improvement projects at the Lenawee County Health Department utilizing a federal grant for public health infrastructure. No county funds will be used for these projects. 
• Approved a quote from Creek Enterprise to connect the school and gymnasium buildings at the Maurice Spear Campus to the fiber lines currently being installed. This will allow the Lenawee Intermediate School District to separate their network from the county network and allow all buildings on campus to be connected. The cost is $22,400 to be paid from the contingency division of the capital fund.
• Approved 12 improvement projects for the Judicial Building to be paid for using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.