Federal stimulus dollars helping Bay County, region go green

Federal stimulus dollars are helping Bay County officials turn greenbacks into green solutions and big cost savings.

Earlier this year, Bay County received $588,000 in federal economic stimulus funds -- a sum that has helped the county implement some green solutions and realize some significant cost savings. Since receiving the funds, the county has replaced most of its lighting -- including parking lot fixtures -- with more energy-efficient lighting. County officials estimate the savings for that project alone at about $20,000 a year.

The funds also will help the county install wind turbines at the Juvenile Home in Hampton Township and at the Civic Arena in Bangor Township, says Bay County Executive Tom Hickner. Improvements also include a new air conditioning system and solar-powered golf carts for the county golf course.

The improvements are expected to save the county tens of thousands a year in electricity and other costs, he says.

The federal dollars also will allow Bay County to retain a firm that will help develop a regional energy strategy for Bay, Midland, and Saginaw county governments. The strategy will be developed through a series of workshops and meetings to identify policies, procedures, and investments that "will produce energy conservation in the region," Hickner says.

The effort to go green is not a new one in Bay County -- it's been ongoing for about the past decade, he says.

"We have had an ongoing interest on the part of the county to increase our energy efficiency," Hickner says, "because it goes right to the bottom line in terms of the county government."

Writer: Jenny Cromie
Source: Bay County, Tom Hickner