HIGH DESERT SUN RETURNS LOWER
ENERGY COSTS FOR TOWN OF YUCCA VALLEY
Federal Grant, Rebate and Low-Interest Loan Makes PV System an
Easy Choice
November 29, 2005 (Yucca Valley, Calif.) -- When leaders of
Yucca Valley California started building their community center
complex more than 30 years ago, they had no way of knowing that the
sun, which shines nearly 90 percent of the time in this Southern
California high desert, would one day help the town save money on
its electricity bill. Using
SCHOTT Solar, Inc. photovoltaic (PV) panels, working with
EMCOR Energy Services and leveraging federal grant money, as
well as a low-interest loan and a Southern California Edison rebate,
the local government discovered it needed only $20,000 out of its
general fund for a project valued at $425,000. The project combines
a
56.7 kW solar array and the replacement of the Town Hall/Library
building’s deteriorating roof with a new one that readily supports
PV systems.
Although PV technology had been around for several years prior to
construction of Yucca Valley’s community center complex, at the
time, energy costs were considerably lower, the technology was not
nearly as developed as it is today and incentive programs were all
but non-existent. Also, eventually replacing some of the roofs on
the complex was on the books, but only as part of any new building’s
construction. However, times have changed. Energy costs have soared;
PV system technology is much more efficient and reliable, and
renewable energy incentive programs are much more available. With
Council members advocating solar energy for the Town along with one
of the Center’s roofs ready for replacement, the summer of 2005
became the Town’s time to invest in renewable solar energy.
“The timing was great and the cooperation of other agencies really
lined up for us on this investment. Obviously, as a municipality,
things like tax credits and accelerated depreciation have less
impact on our town’s fiscal or investment decisions. So, when we
began looking at alternative energy solutions, we considered
everything from a long-term perspective along with, what will be
good for our town,” said Yucca Valley Town Mayor, Chad Mayes. “We
are extremely happy with the way this has worked out for us. On top
of saving the Town money on our energy bills in the near-term, in
the long term, our PV system will pay for itself and all of the
energy produced by it will be free. The environmental benefits of
the system are a great bonus as well. For every kilowatt-hour of
clean energy our system produces, one less kilowatt-hour will be
required from coal- or gas-fired power stations. As I understand it,
our system will avoid more that 50 tons of green house gas emissions
a year.”
Colman Snaith, P.E., senior mechanical engineer renewable resources
at EMCOR Energy Services, added, “When we first considered the
project, we were prepared to, and in fact did, bid on a PV system
for the town’s Community Center building within the complex. It was
clear that the orientation of that building’s roof was far from
optimal, however, and that it would require a great deal of work,
including penetrating the roof in order to support a properly
oriented system. This added to the cost. The Town Hall/Library
building on the other hand, has a near-perfect exposure for PV,
although the roof of the building was ready for replacement.
Fortunately, the town was receptive to an alternative design that
moved the PV system to the Town Hall/Library building after we
installed new roofs to support the PV array. On the whole, the
project worked out rather well.”
About the Installation
The 56.7 kW PV system, which includes 324 SCHOTT Solar modules, sits
on a new, standing seam metal roof. The modules are clamped to the
standing seams with no roof penetrations. The system is expected to
produce approximately one-third of the Community Center complex’s
energy needs.
About EMCOR Group Inc.
A Fortune 500 company with over $4.7 billion in annual revenues,
EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE: EME) is a global leader in mechanical and
electrical construction, energy infrastructure, and facilities
services. EMCOR gives life to new structures and sustains life in
existing ones by its planning, installing, operating and maintaining
the sophisticated and dynamic systems that create facility
environments---such as electrical, mechanical, lighting, air
conditioning, heating, security and power generation systems---in
virtually every sector of the economy and for a diverse range of
businesses around the world. EMCOR’s “knowledge in action” slogan
reflects its rare combination of global reach with local execution,
combining the strength of an industry leader with the knowledge and
care of 140 locations worldwide. The 26,000 skilled employees of
EMCOR have made the company, in the eyes of leading business
publications, amongst America’s “Most Admired” and “Best
Performing.” EMCOR’s diversity---in terms of the services it
provides, the industries it serves and the geography it spans---has
enabled it to create a stable platform for sustained results. The
Company’s strong financial position has enabled it to attract and
retain among the best local and regional talent, to undertake and
complete the most ambitious projects, and to redefine and shape the
future of the construction and facilities services industry.
Additional information on EMCOR can be found at
www.EMCORGroup.com.
About SCHOTT Solar Inc.
SCHOTT Solar Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of SCHOTT Solar GmbH based in
Alzenau Germany, is North America’s leading manufacturer and
distributor of solar power components and systems, serving customers
throughout the Americas. The company’s U.S. headquarters and
manufacturing facility in Billerica, Massachusetts, produces the
largest solar power module available worldwide, the ASE 300™. SCHOTT
Solar GmbH is one of the world's leading manufacturers of PV wafers,
cells, and solar power modules. SCHOTT Solar is the only company
worldwide to offers products and solutions for all solar
technologies. At the close of its last business year, the company
achieved sales of approximately $337 million. Currently, the company
employs more than 800 people in various regions in the world. For
more information, please visit
www.rweschottsolar.us.
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Contact Information:
For SCHOTT Solar, Inc.
Jennifer Pecha
916-577-1406
or
Bill Jeppesen
Effective PR, Inc.
916-941-7553
For EMCOR Energy Services
Colman Snaith
415-434-2600
For the Town of Yucca Valley
Jim Schooler
760-369-7211
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