A $2M upgrade at Camp Perry

PORT CLINTON, Ohio - As part of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act a $2 million project is being built to help house Ohio National Guard soldiers and airmen who train at the Camp Perry Joint Training Facility in Port Clinton.

The new barracks facility and the innovative solar field will not only address much needed upgrades to the grounds, but the improvements may also pay off for area businesses.

More than 50 people and representatives from the Ohio National Guard Bureau attended a special ceremony Tuesday at Camp Perry, including U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Major Gen. Gregory Wayt, Adjutant General for the state' national guard forces.

They first threw a switch on a new solar field, similar to the one under construction at the 180th Fighter Wing in Swanton, that will increase energy efficiency across the installation.

"This is the phase one through three of the project here, and these solar panels behind me in one month have already saved us 37-percent on our utility bills for this facility," said Major Gen. Wayt.

Congresswoman Kaptur said the project can be something the rest of the country can follow.

"The military can be a leader in helping transform America and building her forward a renewable energy future."

"But it also helps out our budgets as well and saves taxpayers dollars and we become more efficent in our energy uses, we become green," Major Gen. Wayt added.

The other project being celebrated was the groundbreaking for the new barracks project, which will also upgrade housing facilities. The project will include 16 rooms and 64 beds. The $2 million project was paid for by federal stimulus money.

With the new housing, the hope is that servicemen and women from other areas that come to the installation to train will use the new barracks and spend the night. Military officials hope it will translate into a boost for the area economy.

The Camp Perry barracks project is expected to be complete in May 2010.