Dec 29 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Darrin Youker Reading Eagle, Pa.


Three years ago, Darvin Levengood made what turned out to be a prophetic move.

Levengood, president of Manatawny Creek Winery in Amity Township, installed solar panels on the winery's roof to power the operation.

Back then there was talk about the possibility of electricity prices skyrocketing when rate caps expired, Levengood said.

He decided to install solar panels, believing it would save money.

"On sunny days, we generate more than we need to operate the winery," Levengood said.

Any extra energy generated by the solar panels can be sold back to the grid, he said, sometimes at a savings of 30 percent on his bill.

Now, with rate caps for PPL customers set to expire Thursday, customers are bracing for a 30 percent price increase in 2010.

Met-Ed caps will expire a year later, on Dec. 31, 2010, but company officials have said they don't know yet what the impact on rates will be.

Berks County agriculture leaders are trying to prepare farmers and show them alternative sources of power that could help save on electricity rates.

Sheila Miller, county agriculture coordinator, recently held a conference with regional solar energy companies and farmers to talk about utilizing renewable energy.

Levengood believes other agriculture operations could benefit from solar power just as his winery has.

"We had a little expense setting it up, but we knew it would help in the long run," he said.

On average, solar electrical systems cost $7 to $10 for each watt they produce. For example, a 4-kilowatt system would cost $28,000 to $40,000 to install. The rate of return depends on the size of the system and the amount of electricity consumed.

So far, solar power has not caught on in the Berks agriculture community, Miller said.

But now, with state and federal rebates making solar power more aff ordable, farmers are starting to think about ways of including it in their operations.

A Pennsylvania renewable energy program will pay up to 35 percent of the cost for the system, and the federal government offers a 30 percent tax credit.

"Everyone is getting concerned about what will happen when the electricity caps come off," Miller said.

When it comes to solar power, farmers have an advantage over many homeowners because they have ample space to install solar panels, she said.

Farmers can install large solar arrays on unused land or place panels on the tops of barns and other outbuildings.

"Solar is a good alternative energy," Miller said. "Farmers can use some of their worst land to put up panels and help pay for some of their operation."

Contact Darrin Youker: 610-371-5032 or dyouker@readingeagle.com.

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