Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland announced today that as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Ohio National Guard will receive more than $8.5 million for capital improvements to its facilities across the state.

“These funds will help us modernize and restore 22 National Guard facilities across the state while also putting more Ohioans to work,” Strickland said. “Not only will we extend the lives of the facilities, but we will reduce our operating expenses and be more environmentally friendly.”

The National Guard Bureau began collecting information on "shovel ready" projects from state National Guards in November 2008 in anticipation of a federal stimulus bill. The Bureau focused on roofing projects and projects related to energy efficiency. In the final bill, approximately $266 million was made available for these types of National Guard capital improvement projects nationwide.

Three of the projects will install solar panels at National Guard facilities.

"The stimulus package will fund Ohio National Guard renewable energy projects, installing solar panels at locations in Columbus, Toledo and at the Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center in Newton Falls," said Maj. Gen Gregory L. Wayt, the adjutant general. "These projects will save the National Guard about $78,000 in utility costs within the first year of operation, and will generate about 375,000 Kilowatt hours of electricity per year."

The 22 projects will differ in planning and implementation time, but the goal is to move projects forward as soon as possible. The federal stimulus bill requires that these funds be obligated by the end of September 2010.

-- John Arthur Hutchison