The goal is to install photovoltaic panels on nearly all of the 35 city government and school buildings in Greenville as funding becomes available. The plan will eventually eliminate annual electrical costs of about $370,000 for schools and $350,000 for the city.

Greenville offered incentives to United Solar Ovonic to open production facilities in Greenville in 2007 and now Greenville has partnered with this Michigan-based producer of thin-film solar panels for the GreenERville Project.

This project is being funded by state and federal funds including EECBG, low-interest bonds, and Consumers Energy’s Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP)—an incentive program that also allows Consumers to meet its state of Michigan requirement for alternative energy production.

To date—funds have been used to purchase solar panels for Greenville’s city hall, community center, waste water treatment plant, drinking well field, airport, and two schools. By the end of fall 2010, the city and schools will reduce energy usage by 10%.