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 Lamar Advertising Co. billboards from Pensacola through Destin are sporting new solar panels as part of a $12.5-million project that will place solar or wind power on 1,370 Lamar billboards throughout the state of Florida.

This project creates renewable energy systems that will direct the energy that is captured, back into the electrical grid.  The U.S. Department of Energy is providing a $2.5 million grant through the Florida Energy and Climate Commission and Lamar is funding the remaining $10 million.

“There aren’t batteries on the billboards storing energy for our lighting. The solar panels will be sending electricity back into the power grid,” said Lamar operations manager Rusty Merchant. “When we become connected to the grid, our power bill will be net zero because we will be making a lot more energy than what we will use,“ said Merchant.

For more on this story, check out the Sept. 2 edition of the Navarre Press, or subscribe online.