 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
PSE Customers Reach Solar-Power Milestones
Bellevue WA (SPX) Oct 03, 2008 In advance of the American Solar Energy Society's (ASES) national solar tour Puget Sound Energy has announced that its customers are generating the greatest amount of solar energy to date and receiving the highest level of incentive payments ever made by the utility - two significant milestones in the growth of solar power in the region. "Washington may have a reputation for cloudy skies, but our 316 PSE customers generating electricity from the sun are proving solar works in the Pacific Northwest," said Kimberly Harris, executive vice president and chief resource officer for PSE. "Solar energy is growing rapidly, and PSE is committed to working with our customers to help them take advantage of this powerful source of clean, renewable energy." One milestone, reaching 1.1 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity, marks the first time renewable energy systems owned by the utility's customers have exceeded 1 MW in capacity. On average, PSE customers with solar arrays find their systems produce from 25 to 50 percent of their electric power needs. The second milestone, of the utility's customers receiving $86,557 through PSE's Renewable Energy Advantage Program (REAP), is the highest total ever in the annual incentive payments for alternative energy sources that began in 2006. PSE is a sponsor of Solar Washington, the local chapter of ASES, which is coordinating tours of PSE's Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility near Ellensburg as well as solar homes throughout the Puget Sound area this Saturday, including those of the many PSE customers who generate electricity from the sun. PSE's Wild Horse 500 kilowatt (KW) solar array, which entered service in October 2007, uses photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight directly to electricity. In addition to promoting awareness by noting these customer milestones and sponsoring the upcoming solar tour, PSE supports customers looking to add PV systems, which turn sunlight into electricity, through two programs that help offset the initial expense of a solar array. Net-metering, or what is sometimes called "making the meter spin backwards," allows customers to be credited for any electricity they are producing that is in excess of the electricity they are consuming. When electricity usage exceeds solar energy production, such as during the winter months, the customer can draw on those credits to help offset the normal per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) cost of electricity of approximately $.074 per kilowatt hour for the first 600 kWh of residential electric energy usage. In addition, customers can also take advantage of production metering in the REAP program, where PSE administers a cash payment from the State of Washington to the home or business owner at a rate of as much as $0.54 per kWh generated if using solar panels and inverters made in Washington. A one-time federal tax credit of up to $2,000 also helps to offset the cost of a system. Related Links PSE All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com
ECD And CertainTeed Target Solar Residential Roofing Systems
Valley Forge PA (SPX) Oct 03, 2008Energy Conversion Devices and CertainTeed Corporation have announced a joint agreement to develop roofing- integrated photovoltaic products for the residential market, combining ECD's UNI-SOLAR cells with CertainTeed roofing products. The companies expect these new products to be commercially available beginning in 2010. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement |
