SRP Brings Solar Choice to Valley Customers
GILBERT, AZ — AUGUST 5, 1998 — SRP today announced plans to build the largest single-access tracking solar power plant in Arizona. The 100-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic plant will be the cornerstone of SRP's new Solar Choice Program.
Through the Solar Choice Program, a portion of an interested SRP customers' electricity needs can be met by power from the new solar plant. For $3 a month, any SRP customer can purchase a 100-watt block of solar power, that's about 15 kilowatt hours of electricity or enough power to run a computer for three hours per day or a 60-watt light bulb for eight hours per day.
"Many of our customers have told us they support the development of solar energy," said SRP product development manager Joe Nowaczyk. "By becoming Solar Choice members, our customers will create a new demand for solar energy. This will help SRP bring costs down and help make solar power a reality for the Valley."
Solar energy costs more than other conventional sources of power because the equipment to convert it into electricity is more expensive.
Funds from the Solar Choice Program will help support the cost of building, operating and maintaining the new SRP solar power facility. SRP and the U.S. Department of Energy through the Utility Photovoltaic Group cover the rest of the costs.
The new solar power plant will be located at the Santan Power Plant in Gilbert. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in late September.
"Solar Choice is a partnership between SRP and its customers," said Richard Hayslip, SRP's manager of Environmental, Land & Risk Management. "The program enables SRP to continue to pursue this renewable, pollution-free source of energy with the assistance of its customers."
Solar Choice is the latest alternative energy program announced by SRP. In July, SRP agreed to purchase an advanced solar-powered device from San Diego-based Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).
The SAIC Thermal Hybrid Electric (THE) SunDish will be installed at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) Landfill, an enterprise of the SRPMI Community, after it is delivered to SRP this fall.
The SAIC power system produces 25 kilowatts (kWe) of utility-grade electric power from the energy of the sun. SRP will use the device to generate electricity at night by burning methane gas collected from the landfill.
SRP is the third-largest public power utility in the nation, serving more than 670,000 customers in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Contact: Scott Harelson, (602) 236-3021
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