State Sen. Rob Hogg has proposed Iowa spend $3.1 million to fund an infusion of solar energy capability at the University of Iowa. It could save the university about $100,000 annually in energy costs. For expenditures of this magnitude, a private company looks at time it takes for the savings to equal the cost of the project. They usually accept a three-year payoff. The payoff for Hogg’s project is 31 years.

Surely during these times of public indebtedness there are better ways to spend the taxpayers’ money.

Ralph Bock

Cedar Rapids