Use of solar power heats up

Apr 06 - The Porterville Recorder, Calif.

Local homeowner David McAlister's February electric bill was $1.12.

McAlister lives in a 2,008 square-foot-home.

Indeed, life has been pretty good since he installed a 36-panel, roof-mounted solar system in August at his house on Chess Terrace Street.

"I think it's one of the best things I've ever done," McAlister said.

Because of attractive tax incentives and the appeal of a long-term investment, a lot of local homeowners and business owners are turning to solar power.

McAlister's system, installed by McFerrin & Company, was purchased and set up for about $39,000.

But McAlister was far from having to foot the entire bill.

Electricity supply company Southern California Edison shaved off about $9,000 from the top.

An additional 30 percent of McAlister's cost was wiped out in the form of a federal tax credit.

"Every penny I paid into taxes I got back last year," he said.

McAlister said he is now looking at a price tag of about $20,000.

"Basically, this system is going to cost less than my car did," he said.

Even better, McAlister said he should recoup his cost in just four years or so. Any power he does not use is delivered to SCE's electrical grid. In return, McAlister receives a credit on his electric bill.

McAlister said he did not pay a single penny toward an electric bill from August to November.

Actually, money came to him because the system generated so much power.

"How could it be much better?" he said. "To me, it's been perfect."

John Heiser, Resource Management Agency planner, said he has seen an increase in permit applications for solar systems since last summer.

On average, he said two applications for solar systems to be used at homes come across his desk each week.

Since the beginning of the year, RMA has approved four applications for solar systems at agricultural processing facilities, Heiser said.

Setton Pistachio recently had a total of 7,308 solar panels installed at its two plants in Terra Bella and Pixley.

Lee Cohen, company general manager, said the modules will provide 25 to 35 percent of Setton's total electrical consumption and annually offset 1,900 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Cohen said he hopes to have the system up and running some time in May.

On Feb. 24, community leaders, SCE representatives and interested citizens gathered to watch as a utility-owned solar station west of the Porterville Municpal Airport, highlighted by 29,426 panels, was powered up.

The modules can generate 5 million watts of energy at peak capacity -- enough power to serve 3,250 homes.

The station connects directly to the utility's neighborhood power circuits and serves all SCE customers in the region.

Applications for several more utility-scale facilities -- ranging from 12 to 40 megawatts -- to be installed in the Terra Bella-Ducor area are currently under review, Heiser said.

The facilities, if the applications are approved, will be installed south of Ducor (a 20-megawatt site and two 40-megawatt sites), southeast of Terra Bella (a 20-megawatt facility) and east of Richgrove (a 12-megawatt site).

Six applications for utility-scale facilities near Alpaugh have already been approved by RMA, and the agency continues to receive "daily inquiries," Heiser said.

The state Legislature on Wednesday passed Senate Bill X1-2, which requires 33 percent of California's energy portfolio to be "renewable" by 2020.

Jan Smutny-Jones, Independent Energy Producers executive director, called SBX1-2 the most ambitious "green" energy goal in the nation.

Contact Alex K.W. Schultz at 784-5000, Ext. 1050 or aschultz@portervillerecorder.com.

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