The Pima County Board of Supervisors is set to vote today on a deal that could save the county $4.5 million over 20 years.
The board is considering the purchase of $22 million worth of electricity from solar-energy provider Solon Development.
County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry told the Arizona Daily Star it’s a good deal for taxpayers because the county will have to buy the electricity anyway. This agreement just allows them to buy it cheaper.
Under the plan, Solon would build solar-power-generating facilities over parking structures in the Tucson area on county property and sell the power it generates to the county. Solon would own the parking facilities and be responsible for maintenance.
The county would agree to buy the power from Solon, rather than Tucson Electric Power, at a price that will be fixed for the full 20 years.