Last week the Watertown City Council authorized city manager Alan Stager to apply for a $4.75-million Federal Aviation Administration grant to install a solar farm at the city airport:
The proposed effort involves the installation of a solar energy system at Watertown Regional Airport to offset existing electrical demand and reduce long-term operating costs. With increased student activity and additional users on the airfield, electricity consumption has risen significantly. Even after implementing operational adjustments and efficiency measures, projected annual electricity costs remain approximately $90,000, representing about one-fifth of total airport operating expenses.
This project aligns with both the City and Airport goals to promote sustainability, manage operational costs, and support continued aviation and educational growth. It advances the Airport’s strategy of pursuing long-term economic responsibility without increasing fees for tenants or users. The initiative would improve energy resilience while reducing reliance on fee collection in order to offset operational expenses [Ian Meriwether, airport manager, memo to Watertown City Council, agenda packet, 2025.10.27].
The FAA Voluntary Airport Low Emissions Program grant would cover 95% of the $5M project. The city and state would split the remaining $250K cost.
Republican mayor Ried Holien is all about going green… and by green, I mean money:
Mayor Ried Holien tells KWAT News there’s no guarantee Watertown will get the grant, but at least applying for it is a no-brainer.
“I don’t care how you feel about solar energy. Just imagine a five million dollar construction project coming into Watertown and getting those workers here, getting those tax dollars here, because that’s all money coming into Watertown. So right off the bat, that’s good news for Watertown if we can potentially get this” [“Watertown City Council Voted to Approve Grant for Solar Energy Farm near the Airport,” Hub City Radio, 2025.10.28].
Airport manager Meriwether tells the city the FAA may act on the solar grant application this winter… assuming, of course, that Mayor Holien’s favorite president doesn’t get wind of Watertown’s effort to plug into solar power, which King Don says destroys farmers and, along with wind power, is “the scam of the century.” The VALE Program has somehow escaped the Administration’s attention as it has axed other federal programs promoting renewable energy. Last month the FAA canceled $6.7M promised two years ago to help the Indianapolis International Airport build a 183-acre, 87,478-panel solar farm, following the EPA’s cancellation in August of $130M in support for solar projects across Indiana.
I would not think that Holien donated enough to Trump’s inauguration to land a federal project like this.