Solar panels added at McCall Monument

To become more energy efficient, McCall Monument recently installed solar panels at its Newton location. Owner Lee Barnett hopes the investment will help save on energy costs and also help the business lessen its impact on the environment.

“It is kind of a long-term, long-range plan to make it pay off, but we going to be here a long time so we thought it was a good fit,” Barnett said.

McCall contacted Moxie Solar of North Liberty more than a year ago after seeing a display at another business.

“We started talking to them and went back and forth. Then finally, last spring, we decided we were going to go forward with it,” Wyatt Barnett said. “They started putting up panels in the fall, in October and November, then kicked us over live Dec. 31.”

About 400 solar panels now sit on top of three outbuildings located behind the main office, design and showcase building at 801 Highway 14.

With the panels, 100 percent of the electrical usage should be covered by solar power, saving the company money and helping the environment in the process.

“It kind of made sense for us for financial reasons. Our electric usage kept going up,” Wyatt said. “We also liked the environmental benefits behind it as well. It helps to lesson our carbon footprint, which is always good.”

Although it was a big investment, Lee thought more than $100,000 total, they were able to get both grants and tax breaks to help minimize the cost.

“We think it will help us be competitive. It will help to keep costs down, whether it is energy costs or supplies, it is just good,” Lee said.

This will be the only location Lee plans to put the solar panels, as it is the largest and has the most work done including more lights, and an air compressor that runs all day long. McCall’s other location are mostly office buildings that do not use as much electricity.

“It seems like a win, win in the long run,” Lee said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com