Polk County supervisors approved funding earlier this week for the first phase of the installation of solar panels on county-owned buildings. The $2.3 million dollar investment will be a major step forward in the effort to reduce the county’s carbon footprint 90% by 2040, officials said in a news release. The first phase of the solar initiative will pay for the installation of solar panels at Polk County Administration, North Side Community Center and River Place. This investment will result in an energy savings of $5.1 million over the next 30 years, according to the release. “This is Polk County leading the way on investing in energy savings and reducing our carbon footprint,” said John Norris, Polk County administrator, in a prepared statement. “Not only will this result in energy cost savings for taxpayers for years to come, but it signals our commitment to transitioning from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy.”