NORRISTOWN – Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty Friday unveiled a 4.8-kilowatt solar power system on the roof of DEP’s Southeast Regional Office Building in Norristown that will conserve electricity and provide emergency power to critical systems that protect public health and safety.
The 30-module photovoltaic system will produce clean electricity and demonstrate the usefulness and reliability of solar power, which is an important component of Gov. Rendell’s Energy Independence Strategy that will cut Pennsylvania consumers’ energy costs by $10 billion over 10 years.
“This solar system showcases how the use of alternative energy, combined with the advanced energy efficiency and conservation technologies in use at the Southeast Regional Office, can conserve electricity and meet Governor Rendell’s aggressive goals for production of clean energy,” McGinty said. “Solar power is an important piece of the Governor’s strategy to dramatically reduce energy costs for homes and businesses, create new jobs and strengthen our economy by increasing the production and use of renewable energy.”
As governor, Rendell has moved to cut government energy usage by replacing part of the state vehicle fleet with fuel-saving hybrid vehicles and directing state agencies to cut energy use in government buildings 20 percent by 2011 by replacing inefficient lighting, removing unnecessary appliances and adjusting temperature controls.
Funding for the solar system was provided by BP Products North America in partnership with DEP and the Sustainable Development Fund which provided technical advice. Chester County-based Mesa Environmental Sciences Inc. was the project team leader and was selected by BP to design, install and maintain the system.
The new solar PV system consists of 30 160-watt poly-crystalline solar photovoltaic modules manufactured by BP Solar, a sister company of BP Products. The system will feed 4.8 kW of solar power to supply a portion of the building’s power needs and charge eight emergency backup batteries to provide at least 24 hours of backup power to critical infrastructure in the event of a blackout.
The panels will generate approximately 5,343 kWh per year or 160,291 kWh over the expected 30-year life of the modules. By using solar power instead of buying electricity from traditional power plants, the commonwealth will eliminate the emission of 7,804 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
The solar system will back up the DEP regional office’s emergency response calibration and equipment room, including computers, task lights, communication devices, and analytical equipment. The workspace then will allow the DEP’s regional emergency response team to operate out of the regional office during a grid outage when recharging of vital analytical equipment and communication devices may not be otherwise possible.
Installation of renewable energy systems provides another method to ensure that police and fire stations, hospitals and emergency centers, and government buildings can offer consistent and reliable services during blackouts. The solar system at the regional office also will generate electricity continuously during normal daytime operations, offsetting electricity demand.
To maximize the benefit of the solar power units, the DEP Southeast Regional Office building was designed to meet the rigorous “green building” standards of the U.S. Green Building Council. The building received the Gold Level of the internationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. Green buildings use less water and electricity than other buildings and utilize environmentally friendly and recycled construction materials; they promote technology that can preserve resources and save money; and they offer tremendous health benefits.
Among states, Pennsylvania is second only to California in energy efficiency with more than three dozen buildings LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Eight of the certified buildings are state facilities. Another 129 Pennsylvania buildings are registered for LEED certification.
Solar power and energy conservation are important components of Governor Rendell’s Energy Independence Strategy, an initiative that will invest $850 million to significantly expand Pennsylvania’s alternative fuel and clean energy industries, stabilize electricity rates for businesses, reduce dependence on foreign oil and cut consumer energy costs by $10 billion over the next decade.
The governor’s proposal includes a $200 million Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Initiative that will create incentives for solar manufacturers to establish operations in Pennsylvania, and offers rebates to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of new solar systems for homeowners and small businesses.
At current electricity rates, the average household could save about $600 a year with a 5 kW system, or solar panels that generate about two-thirds of the electricity consumed in the home.
“By supporting conservation and the production of renewable energy sources, Governor Rendell’s Energy Independence Strategy will help Pennsylvania consumers save money by reducing the need for electricity from traditional power plants during periods of peak demand and by reducing the need to build costly new power plants to meet rising demands for power,” McGinty said.
Pennsylvania Sunshine will also help the commonwealth meet the aggressive clean power goals set by Gov. Rendell and his partners in the General Assembly in the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. The Pennsylvania AEPS contains one of the most ambitious standards for solar power in the nation, requiring that solar energy generate 0.5 percent of all electricity in the commonwealth, an equivalent to powering almost 80,000 typical homes per year in Pennsylvania.
The Energy Independence Strategy also offers incentives for electricity generators to invest in conservation measures, and offers rebates to small businesses and homeowners who trade in inefficient home cooling appliances.
For more information on Governor Rendell’s Energy Independence Strategy visit DEP’s Web site, Keyword: “Energy.”
