Cong. French Hill Seeking Answers On VA Hospital Solar Panels

KATV Ch. 7’s Elicia Dover reports:

After a Channel 7 News report, Rep. French Hill sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald on Wednesday seeking answers on the Little Rock VA solar panels that remain turned off more than two years after installation.

The Channel 7 News report revealed some of those solar panels are now being torn down for a parking garage and relocated to the top of that parking garage.

Hill is seeking answers on why the parking garage was approved when the solar panel project had already broken ground. Hill also asks in his letter how the VA plans to pay for the extra cost of relocating the panels.

Channel 7 News also sent a list of follow up questions to VA officials after Monday’s story. VA officials have said they will answer questions Thursday in an interview.

Sen. John Boozman also commented on the report, telling Channel 7 News:

“The failure of the Little Rock VA’ s solar panels shows an obvious disregard for the money hardworking Arkansans send to Washington. Renewable energy projects like this have the potential to save taxpayer dollars, but it’s clear that hasn’t happened at this location. As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee I will work to see what we can do to improve VA’s Renewable Energy Program to correct this problem.”

You can access Hill’s full letter and watch the video report from Ch. 7 at this link.