The lawmakers who called for the VA Office of Inspector General to review Little Rock's solar panel project and others around the country responded to Channel 7 News about the results of the report. The report showing the Little Rock VA's project was "not adequately planned or managed."
"It makes people cynical about government decision making," said Congressman French Hill.
Channel 7 News' cameras caught some of those unused solar panels being torn down for the construction of a parking garage. The report shows VA officials knew about both the parking garage and the solar panels being planned on the same site, but went ahead with building the solar panels, knowing they'd eventually have to be torn down.
"To know they were going to spend money to put up solar panels knowing they would tear them down to build a parking deck in advance. No business person would make a decision like that. It just wouldn't be done," Hill said.
The report also reveals the project's delays will send it $1.5 million over it's original $8 million budget.
"I think it's offensive to many. We have to be good stewards of the people's money," Hill said.
Little Rock VA officials responded to the report Thursday in a statement to Channel 7 News:
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) appreciates the Office of Inspector General report and recommendations. We are concerned about the solar panel delays at our Little Rock campus and have taken efforts to have a completion date by January 2017. The solar panels on our North Little Rock campus have been fully operational since October 2013 and has generated 4,600,000 kWh.
VA understands the need to protect the environment and is committed to providing clean, renewable power where feasible and cost effective. Upon completion, the Little Rock system is anticipated to generate approximately 2,600,000 kWh per year. This will reduce greenhouse gases by 1, 560 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year and decrease the hospital’s annual utility costs by up to 12 percent.
CAVHS has reinforced and expanded our efforts to ensure efficient and wise use of resources. CAVHS Leadership is committed to ensuring completion of this VA Green Management Project.
Sen. John Boozman, who also called for the OIG review sent this statement:
I commend the diligent work that the VAOIG’s office put into this report. The clear takeaway is that there is a lack of accountability and oversight at VA when it comes to the Green Management Program. This must change. VA’s refusal to accept the OIG’s recommendation that it conduct the proper assessments necessary to prevent future failures of this magnitude is unacceptable. Steps must be taken to ensure that resources meant to help our veterans are not squandered on wasteful projects. Congressman Hill and I are committed to ensuring that the poor management practices of the VA’s Solar Panel Projects are addressed.
(ORIGINAL STORY: 8/3) Report: Little Rock VA solar panels $1.5 million over budget after 4 years delayed
The solar panel project at the Little Rock VA hospital has mismanaged, according to a new report released from the VA’s Office of Inspector General. The project is project to be finished 4 years beyond its original completion date and $1.5 million dollars over budget.
The OIG report comes after a Channel 7 News investigation into the solar panel project at the Little Rock VA found the solar panels have been sitting there turned off since being constructed in 2013.
“The Little Rock VA medical facility did not effectively plan the installation of solar panel system,” the report says. “The system is not completed and is not generating solar power.”
After VA officials have given four deadlines of when the panels would be turned and missed all four of the deadlines, the latest completion date is Jan. 2017.
“Little Rock’s solar panel project was not adequately planned or managed,” the report said.
The original cost of the project was $8 million dollars. The report reveals the Little Rock VA’s solar panel project is expected incur $1.5 million dollars of additional costs, much of that going toward the collision of two projects on the same site.
Channel 7 News previously reported on some of those solar panels being torn down for the construction of a parking garage. VA officials knew about both projects but went ahead in constructing the panels, knowing they would eventually have to be torn down for the construction of the planned parking garage.
“The former CAHVCS director and former chief engineer at Little Rock identified a conflict between their solar panel and parking garage projects in August 2012. However, they missed the opportunity to delay the January 2013 installation of the solar photovoltaic panels,” the report said.
The cost the deconstruct and the later reconstruct the panels on the top of the parking garage is $906,000.
The issues didn’t end in Little Rock. Of the 15 solar panel projects awarded between 2010 and 2013, the OIG reviewed 11. Of the 11 solar panel projects reviewed across the country, only fiver solar projects were fully complete.
“This occurred because of planning errors, design changes, a lengthy interconnection process and contractor delays,” the report said.