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U.S. Senator John Boozman, R-Ark., and Congressman French Hill, R-Little Rock, sent a letter to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs urging an evaluation of the planning process for renewable energy programs.

The move is a response to a story first reported by KATV television that involved the construction of a $8 million solar panel project that was removed shortly after being built to make way for a parking garage. The solar panels, which were never activated, are to be rebuilt on the roof of the new parking deck.

“We have a number of concerns with this project. First, it appears that there was a significant lack of planning and due diligence on the part of VA by installing a solar photovoltaic system that was incompatible with the local electricity grid. Second, we do not understand why VA would proceed with a construction project that was knowingly in conflict with another pending construction project,” the lawmakers wrote in their joint letter.