WARREN, Ohio - In the chambers where Warren city council makes decisions on the city's future, members learned more about a project that could change the city's energy future.

Third ward councilman Greg Greathouse has led a push to install solar panels to power the municipal building and the main fire station nearby.

"The price of solar panels continues to drop and is now competitive with Ohio Edison First Energy," Greathouse said. "We can actually save the city money by converting to solar."

 

Dan Cook from Solarstone LLC out of Cleveland says this project would be unique.

 

"It has a downtown presence so there's going to be visibility, people are going to see that and that's going to represent that it's what the city wants," said Cook.

 

The plan as of now is for the panels to occupy four acres of space not far from the municipal building and fire station along South Street. While council generally agrees this is the right project at the right time, not everyone is convinced about the location."

 

"Is it a good idea to put it in a downtown prime piece of property for the next 30 years and you can't grow?" said at-large councilwoman Helen Rucker. 

The panels would cost up to a million dollars - a price the city may not have to pay if it enters into a power purchasing agreement with Solarstone.

 

"I don't see a downside for the city and nobody who's put these things up has taken them down," said Greathouse. 

 

A feasibility and benefit study - which should happen in the next couple of months - is the next step to determine whether the sun will shine on solar energy in the city of Warren.