The Escanaba City Council gave its approval Wednesday night to move ahead on developing a solar energy garden in the city.

At a joint meeting with the Electric Advisory Committee, Glendon Brown gave a presentation on the possibility of a solar garden in Escanaba. After looking at numbers, he said he is more encouraged that solar energy makes financial sense for the city.

“I’m encouraged,” he said. “There are uncertainties but the numbers seem like they’re working, that we could make this make sense.”

The city is looking at the possibility of installing solar panels in one location that can then be sold to homeowners or businesses to generate electricity. Brown, who serves on the city’s electric advisory committee, outlined 18 issues that would need to be addressed as they work to develop a solar garden including a location, determining costs and developing a net metering policy.

“And then, if we talk about the next steps, we prepare some brochures, start to advertise this, go out and talk with business groups and start talking about this, explain the concept and survey how much interest there is from residents and businesses,” Brown said.

Brown suggested they look at two or more possible sites for a solar garden. One possible site would be the Delta County Airport near the city’s waster water facility.