PPC Solar Poised to Build 1.5 Megawatt Solar Project in Taos County

Nov. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- PPC Solar has announced that the Board of Directors of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative has conditionally approved a Power Purchase Agreement under which it would purchase solar electricity for the next 25-years from a 1.5 MW DC photovoltaic array in Taos County that would be constructed by PPC Solar. The solar install would be the largest in Taos County, utilizing approximately 5,400 solar panels situated on approximately 8.5 acres just northwest of Taos. The system would produce an estimated 2,985,859 kWh of solar power during its first year of operation which would offset 21,535 tons of CO2  the equivalent to planting 107,675 trees.  The agreement is subject to approval by Tri-State Generation and Transmission, which is slated to consider the agreement on December 7, and permitting by Taos County by December 31, 2011.  

Driven by falling costs and a robust federal clean energy program, the U.S. solar industry grew by 67 percent in 2010. Americans overwhelmingly support the development and use of solar energy according to a new national poll. These and other findings were reported on November 1, 2011, in the 2011 SCHOTT Solar Barometer™, a nationally representative survey conducted annually by independent polling firm Kelton Research.
For the fourth consecutive year, the survey found that about nine out of 10 Americans (89%) think it is important for the United States to develop and use solar energy. Furthermore, when asked to select an energy source they would financially support if they were in charge of U.S. energy policy, 39% of Americans chose solar over other sources such as natural gas (21%), wind (12%), nuclear (9%) and coal (3%).

Utilities are taking note by investing in solar power to reduce their long-term energy costs, promote local energy independence, and generate increased revenues from the sale of renewable energy credits (REC’s), while complying with the mandates established by most states that utilities meet certain renewable energy portfolio standards.

According to Daniel Weinman, CEO of PPC Solar, "projects like this have the capacity to invigorate our local economy. Not only will it expand the number of jobs for our labor force, it can also give Kit Carson more control over the rising cost of electricity received from Tri-State. More money made locally equals more money to spend in our community."  At a time when businesses are hard-pressed to reduce operating expenses, PPC Solar is working with the local community to find solar-powered solutions that can help with long-range financial planning while increasing the bottom line.

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PPC Solar is committed to changing the way the world is powered and improve the quality of life. We are a full service electrical contracting business specializing in renewable energy and photovoltaic systems, in operation since 1979.