Press Release - Solar Panels Installed at State Capitol Building
OFFICE OF LT. GOV. BARBARA O'BRIEN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 16, 2008
CONTACT:
DOUG PLATT (303) 548-2888
JULIE POSTLETHWAIT (303) 598-9596
SOLAR PANELS INSTALLED AT STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien today announced the continued greening of the Colorado's State Capitol with the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the historical building.
"Today's installation shows that Colorado state government is leading by example in the creation of Colorado's New Energy Economy," said Lt. Gov. O'Brien. "This is good news when you consider the current economic climate. We're not only saving the state money, but we're taking another step to protect our planet."
Bella Energy will install a 10kW PV system on the Capitol. The power created by the PV system is enough to power two homes, and will be consumed within the Capitol building. In addition, it will study the efficiency of west-facing PV panels as compared to more traditional south-facing PV panels, as both will be installed in the same site.
"The Capitol PV system is designed to be both an educational tool and a demonstration program to teach Capitol visitors about the benefits of solar power," says O'Brien.
Once completed, plans call for visitors to the Capitol to be able to monitor the activity of the PV system in real time via a computer monitor that will be located in "Mr. Brown's Attic," the museum display located in the Capitol's dome. The monitoring system will track the panels' electric generation activity, along with the activity of the two other renewable energy systems at the Governor's residence. The monitoring system is being provided Bella Energy.
The PV system, like the solar systems located at the Governor's Residence, is funded from an earlier energy savings project conducted by Chevron Energy Solutions at the Capitol Complex.
According to the installation contractor, Bella Energy, the system will cost $31,000 after rebates from Xcel Energy, and will pay for itself entirely through avoided energy costs.
In addition to this PV system, the state has previously installed two PV systems, along with a geoexchange system at the Governor's Residence. The State is also planning a much larger PV system closer to 100kW for its building located at 1881 Pierce Street, in Lakewood.