Oakland County estimates it could save about $3.7 million over 10 years by buying solar power for dozens of government buildings.

Under a 10-year contract, the county will purchase renewable electricity from the Hart Solar Project, a 120-megawatt facility in Oceana County in western Michigan, according to the county. The deal covers 46 county buildings, plus multiple sites run by the Water Resources Commissioner and the Parks and Recreation Department. Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township residents are among the county taxpayers served by those buildings.

Oakland County's Facilities Management Department estimates the contract could save more than $300,000 a year compared to current utility rates. The county cautioned that the estimate could shift with energy market volatility.

The Hart Solar Project held its grand opening Thursday, Oct. 8. An Oakland County delegation attended, including Board of Commissioners Chair David T. Woodward of Royal Oak, Commissioner Gwen Markham of Novi and Chief Sustainability Officer Julie Lyons Bricker.

The facility is now operational, according to NorthStar’s project page.

County Executive Dave Coulter said the deal advances his administration's goal of cutting operational greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2035 and reaching net zero by 2050.

"We are doing our part by purchasing electricity from a facility that provides utility-scale energy output without utility-scale emissions," Coulter said in a statement.

Oakland County described itself as among the first counties in Michigan to power operations using solar energy.

The Hart Solar Project is operated by Ann Arbor-based NorthStar Clean Energy. The facility is expected to generate more than 200 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, according to NorthStar.

The project also serves Michigan school districts. Oakland Schools and 45 other public school districts statewide are projected to save approximately $25 million over a 10-year agreement through a partnership with NorthStar, Robert Bernardi of Executive Energy Services said in NorthStar’s Sept. 21 release.

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners' next full board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m., according to the county website.