CIINTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)—Sheriff Rich Kelly with the Clinton County Sheriff's Office said solar panels could lower their utility bill significantly.

"We've looked at over the last few months of what our utility bills are and what we pay,” said Kelly. “On average it's between thirteen, fourteen thousand dollars."

The Clinton County Sheriff's Office met with a company out of Indianapolis called Power Home Solar and Roofing on Thursday. Sheriff Kelly said if they go through with this solar project, it could cut their monthly costs by 30 to 40%.

"We have to look at what we are going to save each month,” said Kelly. “If we have a thirteen-thousand-dollar bill and if you just say it's twelve thousand and you take four thousand dollars off of that and you take over a year’s time."

In 2018 the sheriff's office paid more than $170,000 in power, water and sewer. In 2019 to date the office has already paid over $130,000. That's only $31,962 away from 2018. Sheriff Kelly said the county could benefit as well.

"It's going to save us as a community later down the road,” said Kelly. “If we can supplement it and take four, five, or six thousand dollars off of it every month. Then at the end of the year we are looking at thirty five to forty five thousand dollars worth of savings."

Joyce Estes has lived in Clinton County for 59 years. She said hopes the lower utility bills could lead to lower taxes.

"If I'm helping pay for those utilities I'm all for anything getting my taxes lowered,” said Estes.

Estes said there is one thing she will not be okay with.

"I'm done helping and okaying and voting for helping anymore financing,” said Estes. “I think they need to rearrange this budgeting to figure it out.”

Sheriff Kelly said Power Home Solar and Roofing will also present this to county leaders at the next county council meeting in three weeks. 

Kelly also said the office will apply for grants to help fund the project if they go forward with installing solar panels on the jail.