MAC moving ahead with major solar power project

Solar panels are being installed on eight acres at MAC’s Park Hills campus. Lisa Brotherton-Barnes

Mineral Area College (MAC) is moving forward with its large-scale solar energy project, which is expected to save the school hundreds of thousands of dollars annually while significantly reducing its carbon footprint and enhancing sustainability efforts across the campus.

The project, approved by the MAC Board of Trustees in January 2025, is being built on approximately eight acres of college-owned property located behind the softball fields on the main campus in Park Hills. The Board selected A.P.C. Solar as the contractor in a competitive bidding process. Construction is underway, with the system expected to come online by the start of the Fall semester. When completed, the system will produce about 3 megawatts of direct current (DC) power and is projected to generate up to 80% of the electricity needed for the facilities it serves. College officials estimate the project will yield annual savings of approximately $300,000 in electricity costs.

“We believe this is not only a smart financial investment, but a necessary step to modernize and position the college for a sustainable future,” said MAC President Dr. Joe Gilgour. “It allows us to lower our utility costs while aligning with our responsibility to be good stewards of both public funds and the environment.”

The project is funded through a bond issue approved by district voters in April 2024. By pursuing direct ownership of the system rather than using a lease or power purchase agreement, the college will be eligible for direct-pay federal tax credits offered through the Inflation Reduction Act. These credits, combined with the anticipated utility savings, could allow the college to recoup the full project cost within 10 to 12 years.

In addition to financial benefits, the solar array is expected to reduce the college’s greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually—the equivalent of removing nearly 1,000 cars from the road. The college stated that it selected the site to minimize visual disruption and avoid any negative ecological impact, noting that the field behind the athletic complex had been previously unused.

College leaders say the project also supports MAC’s educational mission. The array is expected to provide opportunities for hands-on learning in areas such as environmental science, electronics, facilities management, and workforce development. Administrators are exploring the possibility of incorporating real-time solar data into science and technology courses, and faculty are being encouraged to develop new coursework related to renewable energy.

“This isn’t just a cost-saving measure—it’s a teaching tool,” said Gilgour. “Our students will have the opportunity to learn about solar technology not just from a book, but by observing and analyzing a system that’s producing real power right here on campus.”

Although the college does not currently have a formal sustainability plan, the project represents a significant step toward achieving its long-term environmental and operational goals. Officials say it will improve the school’s eligibility for future grants, raise its profile in sustainability initiatives, and serve as a model for other rural institutions considering similar investments.
The solar array is part of a broader strategy to reduce the college’s reliance on fossil fuels, lower operational costs, and reinvest savings into student services and infrastructure improvements.

“This project reflects who we are and who we want to be,” Gilgour said. “It’s forward-thinking, fiscally responsible, and rooted in the support we received from our community. We’re grateful for the opportunity to take this next step.”

Once completed, the system will be one of the largest solar installations among Missouri’s community colleges and is expected to be fully operational before the end of the Fall semester.

Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a Daily Journal and Farmington Press staff writer. She can be reached at lbarnes@dailyjournalonline.com.