Kennesaw park officials estimate the solar panels will save $25,000 a year in energy costs.
“It will save us utility costs that can be used for other park needs,” said Dr. Stanley Bond, park superintendent. “One of the priorities of the National Park Service is to reduce the parks’ carbon footprint, and obviously that’s one way we can reduce our carbon footprint.”
Workers began installing the 288 solar panels atop the visitors center on Thursday. The project is expected to be completed in three weeks.
The solar panels will generate most, if not all, of the electricity at the visitors center, Bond said. As part of an interconnection agreement with Cobb EMC, excess power generated during the day by the photovoltaic system will be transferred to other customers, he said.
The solar panels can produce up to 70,000 watts of power during ideal sun conditions, said Bob Saunders of AEG Power Solutions USA Inc., which produced the solar panels.
For 35 years, Walter McDaniel, 77, of Marietta, has regularly run through the park. When he saw the solar panels being installed, he became concerned about the project’s cost to taxpayers.
“There’s a sign there that says, ‘Your stimulus dollars at work,’” McDaniel said. “It seems like it’s a real expensive program.”
In April 2009, the National Park service announced that nearly 800 projects across the country will receive funding totaling $750 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 passed by Congress.
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I wonder if we would have manufacturing of solar panels in the U.S. if the U.S. government had invested in solar energy research?
Yes, I agree that a large number of non-locals stop by the Visitor Center; I'll never dispute that at all. I'm a West Cobb resident as well and a frequent hiker of the Kennesaw Mountain Trails. I'm there enough to witness all the out-of-state tags in the parking lot.
But... will the greening-up of the Vistor Center increase revenue at all? Will more visitors go to the Center because of the panels? Not likely.
Bottom line is that $700,000 of stimulus money alotted to GEORGIA benefits a FOREIGN company and creates nothing in the way of jobs for our area.
Hurray, it saves $25K a year, but keep in mind that those dollars are now taken away from a Georgia company -- Cobb EMC.
In a nutshell and IMHO, I don't think this should be lauded as a great deal.
Only government can give us such an fine example of senselessness.
You make some good points that I won't argue with. However, please know that the Battlefield receives a HUGE number of visitors each year. That is not in dispute.
$700,000 and $25,000 = 28 years before these panels even pay for themselves. And that's assuming they even work. Add to that the cost to maintain and repair, and this is no bargain.
What do you figure the interest on the $700,000 is when it's lumped into our growing Federal deficit? This isn't "free government money." This is MY money and YOUR money. My tax dollars at work? Well, I could have found a better use for this chunk of change.
I've gone to the Vistor Center maybe three times since I've lived in Georgia. How many of you frequent the Visitor Center often enough to make this a worthwhile expenditure?
I travel Georgia roads DAILY.
I cross Georgia bridges DAILY.
Just more pork. Just more waste.
Oh, and that "Your Stimulus Dollars at Work" sign? That's another $1200 - $1500.
What a joke, America.