National Life installs Vermont's largest solar array
|
|
Photo-voltaic panels line the roof of National Life Group behind Leigh Seddon of Solar Works Inc. in Montpelier on Wednesday. Vermont's largest solar power installation to date is up and running. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |
Toolbox
By DAVE GRAM The Associated Press - Published: November 20, 2008
MONTPELIER — It was cloudy and snowing Wednesday when Gov. James Douglas joined an insurance company CEO in throwing a switch on Vermont's largest solar energy installation to date.
Despite the less than ideal conditions, a computer monitor in the lobby of Montpelier-based life insurance and financial services firm National Life Group showed a short time later that the 418 rooftop solar panels were making about 12 kilowatts of electricity.
At noon on a summer day, the system is expected to make up to 73 kilowatts of power, which works out to about 75,000 kilowatt-hours a year, enough electricity to run 10 to 15 typical Vermont homes, said Leigh Seddon, vice president of Montpelier-based Solar Works Inc.
The system will generate less than 10 percent of the power used at National Life's sleek, sprawling headquarters on a hill above Vermont's capital, but company CEO Thomas MacLeay said any savings from a power bill that tops $1 million a year is a good thing.
"This project makes economic sense," MacLeay said. "More importantly, it makes environmental sense. Emissions from electricity generation using fossil fuels are considered the leading contributor to global warming. Solar has zero emissions."
The project represents a confluence of forces:
The company has set a goal of getting 3 megawatts of power from solar. It provided a $40,000 grant toward the National Life project and will pay 6 cents per kilowatt-hour for energy generated by the project.
"We are convinced that by supporting major installations like this one at National Life, solar will become an important part of Vermont's energy future," said Mary Powell, GMP's president and CEO.
Powell said the power will come in handy especially in the summer, when solar panels get the most sunlight and demand on Vermont's power grid is at its highest.
During peak power demand, utilities typically have to buy their most expensive power, as well as bringing online their dirtiest-burning power plants. Even a relatively small amount of solar power can help to reduce those peaks with energy that produces no pollution, she said.
While National Life holds the title as Vermont's biggest solar-electric installation to date, it isn't likely to for long. Officials said Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in Waterbury plans next year to install a 100 kilowatt system — about a third bigger than National Life's — next year.
But National Life isn't done yet, either. It plans by the end of the year to install a solar-thermal hot water heating system. It's expected to provide about half the hot water used by the company's headquarters.
And Seddon said there's ample room for the industry to grow in Vermont. He said Germany is the world leader in using solar energy — and gets about 30 percent less sunshine than Vermont.
12