Boat landing near Duluth adds solar panels

A boat landing near Duluth is now being powered by the sun.

On Tuesday, crews bolted solar panels on an I-beam at the McQuade Road safe harbor to feed electricity into the Minnesota Power grid. The idea is for the solar panels to generate enough electricity to offset the energy used to power the restrooms and the parking lot lights.

The new landing on Lake Superior is the first place the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has carried out a major solar power effort.

The DNR plans to add solar panels to an off-highway vehicle park in Gilbert, and to several North Shore state park campgrounds.

After a discount from the project's contractor, the solar panels at McQuade cost the DNR about $28,000.

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Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)