1 Source Solar is set to install a new solar panel system that will bring significant cost savings to Polk County taxpayers. The new 1 megawatt (MW) project will help power the Polk County Jail as part of a partnership between 1 Source Solar and Iowa’s largest county.

The new solar system will provide an estimated $3 million in energy savings for the county over its lifespan.

The board approved an agreement in April 2026 to work with 1 Source Solar on the project. This will be the second phase of a solar initiative that the county launched in 2024. The county previously worked with 1 Source Solar to install 1.76 megawatts of solar on three of the county’s facilities.

The second phase will include a solar field built near the Polk County Jail. The panels will produce enough energy to cover about 25% of the jail’s energy needs. The county’s total investment after incentives will be about $850,000.

You can read more about the project in this feature article from PV Magazine.

This project is an example of how city and county governments are working with 1 Source Solar to save energy and taxpayer money in Iowa and the Midwest.

Visit our project gallery to learn more about 1 Source Solar’s past work with local governments, including the cities of Johnston and Des Moines in central Iowa. 

To see how we can help you find savings through solar, contact our solar specialists today.