An organization in the Perry community will be doing construction this year that will conserve natural energy.

According to Raccoon Valley Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer Terry Nielsen, the organization is installing a solar canopy throughout the next several months. He confirms the reason behind implementing this was a green initiative to become more energy efficient. Nielsen notes that the bank applied for a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant through the United States Department of Agriculture, which is helping fund the project. He’s looking forward to seeing the positive effects it will hopefully have on the environment.

“For us, we’re excited (that we’re at) the point that we can invite most of our energy usage through the solar canopies, and we’re partnering with Van Wall Energy, and most of our other subcontractors are all local as well. Hughes Excavation, Harland Concrete, and Elite Electrical out of Dallas Center along with Van Wall Power, this is all done through what I call local contractors and local business people in the community, which is important to us.”

Nielsen details that the cost of the projects equates to approximately $1.4 million dollars. Construction is now underway and Nielsen mentions that it will be done sometime this summer, pending the weather.