The Austin City Council could push ahead a a part of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center’s interpretive center project on Tuesday.

During its 5:30 p.m. meeting on Tuesday in the City Council Chamber, the council is expected to vote on the nature center’s plan to install solar energy for its $7 million interpretive center project.

Earlier this month, the Austin Park & Rec Board approved a $155,353 bid from Viking Electric of Spring Grove, the low bidder, to install a roughly 80 kilowatt solar energy unit later this year.

The solar energy is one of the key examples of sustainable practices being built into the new interpretive center, which is slated to open next year. Along with solar energy, the center will feature a cistern to collect water from the roof, geothermal heating and cooling, and rain garden south of the building.

Viking Electric’s $155,353 bid was below the $175,000 budget for the project and far below the other bids, which ranged from $214,000 to $220,000 from Albert Lea Electric, Fox Electric of Austin and a Solar Connections of Rochester.

A work session will follow the regular Austin City Council meeting.