After reading a Nov. 5 letter expressing concerns about the Prince Gallitzin solar array, I reviewed the Altoona Mirror articles from both Oct. 21, 2025, and Aug. 30, 2024, regarding the installation.

Neither article mentioned batteries being part of the system, which leads me to believe there are no batteries involved.

This is typical of grid-tied solar installations, which feed (sell) excess power directly to the utility grid and draw from it when needed.

That means that the expense to dispose of imaginary batteries at the end of their supposed end of life will be exactly $0.

As an actual Pennsylvania taxpayer and voter, I appreciate the $90,000 in annual savings this array is generating for our state park system.

That’s money that can be redirected to maintaining facilities and services we actually use.

Mike Shanafelt

Frankstown Township