CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Today the Centre County Commissioners voted 2-to-1 to approve a contract to build solar panels at the county prison.

The 25-year contract with Centre County Solar Partners will provide roughly 1.91 kilowatts of power for the prison.

Commissioners Pipe and Higgins voted in favor of the panels, saying they will come close to totally powering the prison, covering most of the $111,000 in electric bills each year.

“Excess power is sold back at retail rates.  We bank that, and then perhaps in the winter on a cloudy day, we’ll pull some of those credits back.”

Commissioner Dershem voted against the panels saying their cost, compared to what they’ll provide and require doesn’t add up.

The total cost of the project is about $1.6 million.

The county’s current goal is a 40-year time schedule for the panels which will be completely installed by December 31, 2019.