Federal Solar Energy System is Inaugurated
Sep 09 - United Press International
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman inaugurated a solar energy
system Tuesday at the department's headquarters in Washington.
The new system involves a 205 kilowatt photovoltaic solar array placed on
the roof of the building. The photovoltaic system is 40- to 50 times the
size of a typical residential PV system and is one of the largest in the
Washington area, officials said. It is expected to save as much as $26,000
in utility costs during its first year of operation.
"As America's largest energy consumer, the U.S. government has the
responsibility and the opportunity to lead the way to a cleaner, more
efficient, more affordable and more secure energy future," Bodman said in
prepared remarks. "I determined the Department of Energy should -- and would
-- lead by example."
Bodman said the significance of the solar array is both practical and
symbolic: "It improves the way the department consumes energy. And it is a
symbol of America's commitment to using the best available new technologies
to confront the energy challenges we face today and will face tomorrow."
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