The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy says it’s pleased to partner with the city of Benton Harbor to help low-income residents get a break on their utility bills.
EGLE Director Phillip Roos visited the community on Tuesday to reveal more about a Solar for Savings grant announced for the city earlier this week. He said the funds will be used to install solar panels on city properties.
“Including the water plant — that’s very symbolic — the city hall and the Bobo Brazil Community Center,” Roos said.
The solar panel effort is part of a pilot of solar projects being launched in eight cities around the state using federal dollars.
Roos said the goal locally is to help 180 low-income Benton Harbor residents realize savings of as much as 20% on their utility bills. The specific amount of the grant has not yet been determined as EGLE and the city evaluate what it would take to outfit those facilities with solar panels.
