Public Power - January/February 2009 - (Page 45)

DEED Columbia Water and Light can extend the reach of its solar energy program by partnering with local businesses, which, unlike the publicly owned utility, can take advantage of the solar tax credit. Columbia Sells Solar Energy for 15 Cents a Day By Laurel Lundstrom For just an extraColumbia $4 each month, customers of Water and Light in Missouri can reduce their carbon footprints by investing in the sun. Since October, Solar One, a new partnership between local businesses, residents and the utility, allows consumers to purchase 100 kilowatt-hour solar energy blocks for $48 annually. The project, funded in part by a $25,000 grant from the American Public Power Association’s Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments (DEED) program, will help Columbia Water and Light meet its goal of producing 1 percent of Columbia’s electric portfolio from solar power by 2023. The project was developed “in an effort to make solar energy available for residents who could not afford a system of their own,” said Connie Kacprowicz, the utility’s spokeswoman. Customers sign up for up to 10 blocks on Columbia’s Web site. All blocks are assigned on a first-come, www.APPAnet.org first-served basis. Thus far, interest in the program has been impressive, she said. With more than 100 people signed up to participate, and some customers buying multiple blocks, all 140 planned solar blocks have been purchased from the two partnerships: one between the Dow Chemical Co. and Missouri Solar Applications, and the other a power purchase agreement with the Quaker Oats. Each project will produce 70 blocks of solar energy. “Residents got involved for environmental reasons and because they wanted to see solar technology improve,” said Kacprowicz. As more investment is made in solar energy and solar technologies improve, the cost of participating in the program could potentially go down. Expansion of the project seems promising, she said. “There are a lot of large rooftops (in Columbia) with very good solar exposure. We would be interested in partnering with anyone who could install more solar panels.” By partnering with local businesses, Columbia Water and Light can provide more solar energy at a lower cost, according to the utility’s Web site. Many of these businesses had already started green initiatives because, unlike the utility, they could also take advantage of incentives for installing solar panels, such as tax credits, Kacprowicz said. “We were happy Congress passed a bill that extended solar tax credits,” said Kacprowicz. In addition, some customers with their own solar systems have entered into net metering agreements to help the utility increase the portion of its electric retail sales coming from renewable energy. Through a local renewable energy standard passed by voters in 2004, the utility has a goal of having 5 percent of its energy portfolio come from renewable sources by 2013; 10 percent by 2018; and 15 percent by 2023. Further incentives for indi- vidual solar projects also come in the form of rebates. The utility offers a $500 per kilowatt rebate for qualifying photovoltaic systems. Customers installing a solar water heating system can also qualify for a $400 rebate. If the customer needs to install a backup electric water heater, they can receive an additional $400. ❚ January-February 2009 45 http://www.APPAnet.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - January/February 2009

Public Power - December 2008 Contents Perspective 10 Questions Heat or Eat? Achieving Excellence in Nuclear Operations Training Grand Ambitions for Wind Power Visions of Green Carbon Trading Across The Pond Reliability Green Energy Customer Service DEED Hometown Connections Parting Shot

Public Power - January/February 2009

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