The Knoxville City Council signed a letter of intent at their most recent meeting with Red Lion Renewables, a renewable energy company based out of Norwalk.

The letter of intent gives the City of Knoxville 90 days to negotiate terms of a proposal set out by Red Lion Renewables, which involves putting solar panels up on city buildings such as City Hall, the Knoxville Rec Center, the Fire Station, and the water treatment plant. Knoxville City Manager Aaron Adams tells KNIA/KRLS News the motivation to do a project like this is not only to save money, but it is to set an example that the City of Knoxville is forward thinking and doing their best to protect the environment.

The tax credits used to make this venture profitable will expire in the state of Iowa in 2018, so a council decision on whether to proceed must be made this summer for the project to be economically viable.