The Leelanau County government center was subject to heated debate once again on Feb. 20. This time, the county commissioners were divided over a proposed grant application that would grant the county over $1.5 million to build out solar arrays on the center’s Suttons Bay campus, which is projected to save the county between $883,000 and $1.2 million in energy bills over 25 years.
The project will require “zero financial obligation” from the county, according to Joe DeFors, chair of the county’s Energy Futures Task Force, who presented the application at the board’s regular session. Despite DeFors’ claim, however, the grant application was only approved by a 4-3 vote.
The commissioners were split along party lines, with the four Democrats on the board – commissioners Ty Wessell, Kama Ross, Jamie Kramer, and Gwenne Allgaier – voting yes. The three Republicans – Doug Rexroat, Melinda Lautner, and Jim O’Rourke – voted no.
