| 6/12/2009 11:34:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| POWER OF THE SUN — A roof-top, solar-powered energy system was unveiled on top of the Jefferson Area Business Center on Thursday during a commissioning ceremony. The installation of the photovoltaic (PV) solar system consists of 99 rooftop solar panels and is anticipated to generate approximately 24,800 kilowatt-hours of solar energy per year. Pictured above, posing by the solar panels, are, from left to right — Jefferson Mayor Gary Myers; JABC owner Steve Lewis; Jefferson County Board Chairman Sharon Schmeling; Emily Hickey, of Focus on Energy; Roy Thilly, of WPPI Energy; and Bruce Folbrecht of Jefferson Utilities. — Daily Union photo by Chris Welch. |
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Jefferson Business Center goes solar
By Chris Welch
Union staff writer
JEFFERSON - The Jefferson Area Business Center officially "flipped the switch" - metaphorically speaking - to a roof-top, solar-powered, renewable energy system, one of the largest of its kind in Jefferson County, during a special commissioning ceremony Thursday.
Speaking during the event was Steve Lewis, owner of the JABC; Jefferson Mayor Gary Myers; Jefferson County Board Chairperson Sharon Schmeling; Emily Hickey of Focus on Energy; Roy Thilly of WPPI Energy; and Al Dittmar, of Carroll Electric.
Many area residents, business owners, and other interested people attended the event, as well.
According to Anne Rodriguez, Manager of Corporate Communications and Media Relations for WPPI Energy, the installation of the photovoltaic (PV) solar system consists of 99 rooftop solar panels. The system is anticipated to generate approximately 24,800 kilowatt-hours of solar energy per year.
For comparison's sake, the JABC building's annual electric energy use is approximately 213,760 kwh. Thus, the system's anticipated annual output is equivalent to approximately 12 percent of the building's annual energy use.
WPPI Energy is the power supplier for the local municipal utility serving the JABC, Jefferson Utilities. WPPI Energy and its member utilities will purchase the energy produced by the JABC system.
"WPPI Energy is a regional power company serving 51 customer-owned electric utilities, including Jefferson Utilities," Rodriguez said. "Through WPPI Energy, these public power utilities share resources and own generation facilities to provide reliable, affordable electricity to more than 192,000 homes and businesses in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and Iowa.
"As community-owned utilities, WPPI Energy and its members recognize environmental stewardship as an underlying principle of the public power model," Rodriguez continued. "By fostering the use of renewables such as the JABC's solar PV system, we can help protect our energy future, the environment, and the economic well-being of our communities."
WPPI Energy provided funding for the project in the form of a $72,000 up-front payment for the purchase of 10 years worth of energy from the system. During the ceremony Thursday, Thilly presented Lewis with a check for that amount.
Lewis also anticipates $35,000 in funding through Focus on Energy and will be eligible for tax credits. The total project cost was approximately $200,000. The system was purchased from and installed by Carroll Electric.
One year ago, the building, which is on the banks of the Rock River, was awash in the Flood of 2008. On Thursday, it became a regional leader in renewable energy.
"In my first analysis, I was not interested in how much it could produce, but by how much could I cut my electric consumption," Lewis said. "I led with my heart on this. Actually, when we first started, the roof could no hold it. So we had to install new 20-foot 2-by-12s to support everything.
"When you do a project like this, check the ceiling first," he jested.
Myers congratulated Lewis on the completion of the project.
"Congratulations on leading with your heart," Myers said. "Steve has the courage for this cause. I remember Steve and I talking, and he said he was tired of waiting for other people to go first. 'I want to do something,' he said. So now he stepped forward, he is first and adopted new technology that can only improve over time.
The mayor described the project as a model for the future of energy production.
"Environmental stewardship will be an issue for all of us in the future and what Steve has done here is provide a model for other businesses," Myers said. "They will learn from what Steve has created here. This installation is unique, and I envision students from area schools coming in here to look and learn from this installation. This will grow in distinction and pride."
Adding to the congratulatory atmosphere, Schmeling also expressed her excitement for the project and described Lewis as being a visionary.
"A year ago, when this building was underwater, he told me he had great plans for this place," Schmeling said. "I saw this place filled with water and thought it would never happen. Thank you, Steve, for being a visionary and intrepid leader."
Thilly said WPPI is committed to energy conservation and developing renewable resources, which is why the unveiling of the solar panels was important for him.
"Efficiency is so important, because most of us waste energy," Thilly said. "We cannot do that as we move forward as a society. We need leaders to help move technology into the market and to lead by example to the rest of us as we change our behaviors."
Hickey of Focus on Energy said her hope is that solar energy becomes more mainstream in the next decade.
"With the help of organizations like JABC, Carroll Electric and Jefferson Utilities, we are rapidly achieving our goal," she said. "Focus on Energy hopes that this installation inspires other businesses throughout Wisconsin to become champions of solar power. Doing so will help Wisconsin create a viable high-tech job market and will provide a better future for Wisconsin."
Dittmar thanked Lewis personally for allowing Carroll Electric to work on the project.
"It is incredible to be here as a tenant and watch all of this materialize," Dittmar said. "There were so many people involved in this to make this happen. We all have different skills and different stories about how we got here. But in the end, we see one common thread, and that is we want to make a difference in the world, just like Steve. He has set the pace for the future."
Dittmar said the system may seem complex, but the design is actually rather simple.
"The meter for Jefferson Utilities is the only part that has moving parts in this system," Dittmar said. "We are taking protons, turning them into electrons, and run then through wires and turn them into electricity."
After the ceremony, Lewis was asked if he does hope others will follow.
"Oh, absolutely," he answered. "Obviously, we are very proud of what we have done here today, but it is nothing as to what I expect to see in the future, not only in Jefferson County, but all over the world. There is no turning back now. We need to have independence in energy and I think this is a small start. But I am very glad we are doing it locally."
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