Here comes the sun - and some savings, too

Central Valley - In just the last week, Monroe-Woodbury High School Principal Aldo Filippone said the education about solar power he’s gotten from state Power Authority representatives was like a light bulb going off in his head. “I truly learned a lot more about those funny things that are sitting outside my window on the roof of the school,” he said. “I learned that I should probably have them installed in my house. I learned that they could provide the electric power to run my computer, lights, the stove.” Filippone and acting Superintendent of Schools John Canzoneri hosted state Sen. William J. Larkin Jr. and Power Authority President and Chief Executive Eugene Zeltmann for a presentation at the school this week. Zeltmann said solar power fits in well with state goals of cleaning air, supporting new jobs, fostering broader acceptance of the technology and hoping to lower the cost, thus attracting more activity within the state. Zeltmann said the power authority has had a hand in 20 separate solar power units in the state. The units in the Monroe school will generate about 8,000 kilowatt hours a year, about two percent of the school’s electricity, he said. Zeltmann also pointed to other energy saving initiatives the Power Authority has been working with the school on, such as high-efficiency lighting, energy-saving windows and energy management control systems that have resulted in electricity cost savings of nearly $228,000 a year. “We’re also working hard to bring an electric drive school bus to the school district in the not-too-distant future,” Zeltmann added. “We’re at a point in the evolution of this technology to take it to the next step, of creating a mass market for such technologies, said Zeltmann. “As long as demand remains small, production of solar power will be a niche business and its cost high. But once significant demand materializes, economies of mass production can be put into place, the price will fall and demand will soar.” The six kilowatt roof-mounted system, an array of 40 separate photovoltaic panels, was developed through a $75,000 grant secured by Larkin. The senator said schools are the perfect place for the state to concentrate efforts because energy conservation is a great teaching tool. Students also learn how to operate a computer program that is connected to the solar panels, monitoring system use. Boze-Simpson, who is a senior class senator, said it took about five minutes to learn the program that will be used within classrooms. As he demonstrated the system, Boze-Simpson said the power monitored at the power at that time would run six ovens, 15 air conditioners, 74 computers and 248 sixty-watt light bulbs. Solar power information is available at: • www.nypa.gov (includes solar school initiatives) • www.powernaturally.org (includes state energy renewal information) • www.eere.energy.gov/RE/solar.html (national solar power programs) • www.ases.org/ (American Solar Energy Society).