“I was very disappointed to learn that the college had contracted with a competitor for the installation of a solar system. We had our solar system installed by DS Energy Solutions, a local company.

My point? Our dollars for our solar system stayed here. We chose DS Energy Solutions because they install their own equipment. Our installation dollars also stayed here because those dollars paid the wages of local residents who did the installation.

Our electric bill went from $171 to 95 cents – during all of the recent rains and during the shortest days of the year. That is a fantastic return on money that was earning less than 2 percent in the bank, not to mention the rebates and tax breaks. I realize that the solar system for the college was much larger than our home, but that contract would have allowed a local business to grow and employ more local residents.

We made an excellent investment in our property and an excellent investment in a local business. Too bad the trustees of the college did not make the same investment in our community. The voters made quite an investment on behalf of the college in the recent bond election.”