Montgomery is putting grant money to work at Weller Park, installing solar panels on the park's concession and restroom building in a project the city says will pay for itself several times over.

The city's Environmental Advisory Commission secured grant funding to cover the installation, which is being developed in partnership with Cincinnati-based Melink Solar. The system is projected to deliver a return on investment exceeding 300% over roughly 10 years, according to the city's announcement published Monday, August 3.

Debbie Erdman of the Environmental Advisory Commission wrote that the EAC evaluated several options before selecting Weller Park for its ample sun exposure, which will maximize energy production. Favorable timing also allowed the city to leverage federal tax incentives, enabling additional panels while staying within the grant budget.

Those incentives are available to municipalities through the Inflation Reduction Act's Direct Pay option, which lets local governments receive the 30% federal solar credit as a direct payment, according to Melink Solar.

The panels are expected to generate enough electricity to cover a significant portion of Weller Park's energy needs. Both the solar system and a new roof being installed on the building are expected to last approximately 30 years.

Over its lifetime, the installation is projected to offset about 40 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The city equated that to eliminating more than 80,000 miles of gasoline-powered vehicle travel or planting roughly 600 trees.

Melink Solar, headquartered on Governors Hill Drive in Cincinnati, has installed more than 275 megawatts of solar power nationwide and has completed municipal projects in West Chester Township and the City of Loveland. The city's Public Works and Finance departments are also involved in the project.

Residents who want to learn more can attend the next Environmental Advisory Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 8 at 5 p.m. at Montgomery City Hall, 10101 Montgomery Road. Questions can be directed to Clerk of Council Connie Gaylor at (513) 792-8314 or [email protected].