SMYRNA, Tenn. -
A $4 million solar farm is generating electricity at the Smyrna-Rutherford County Airport.
According to Airport Authority Executive Director John Black the solar farm is only the second at an airport in the state of Tennessee.
"It's producing about one megawatt of power a year, what that might equate to, for you and I, in one day it produces enough power to power your home for about a month," he explained.
The new green technology is a joint venture between the airport, Middle Tennessee State University, the TVA and Middle Tennessee Electric.
"It's a long term project. These panels will produce energy for the next 30 to 40 years," Black said.
The initial cost of the six acre solar farm was paid for by a private company, Soltas Smyrna, though over time the project will pay for itself.
"You can make [the money] back. Especially through these incentive programs that TVA has promoting the green power switch. It'll be between 10 to 15 years on the payback and after that it's 100%." Black said.
Currently there is only one other solar farm at an airport in Tennessee. A smaller farm went online at the Chattanooga airport in January.
"There's one in Denver, there are some other airports around the country that have done them in the past, and they're growing," said Black, adding, "It's becoming more and more prevalent at airports."
For more information on the Smyrna-Rutherford County airport, visit their Web site.
