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NC ZOO OPENS NEW SOLAR-POWER PROJECT
BY: Tom GillespieJan. 24, 2008
ASHEBORO, N.C.—With the throw of a switch Tuesday, Jan 29, the North Carolina Zoo will house the state’s largest solar power project.
Partnering with Carolina Solar Energy (CSE) and Randolph Electric Membership Corporation (REMC), the zoo will have in operation a 104 kilowatt, 9,600 square-foot grid-tied, photovoltaic solar system mounted on three picnic pavilions. The annual production is projected to be 130,000 kilowatt-hours per year, which is the energy used by 11 to 13 average homes in North Carolina.
The Solar Pointe picnic pavilions will provide covered catering space for the zoo and are a gift in-kind from CSE with contributions from the N.C. Zoo Society. The zoo, in turn, is leasing the roofs of the pavilions to CSE for the solar-power system. CSE sells the electricity generated to REMC and receives a subsidy from NC Green Power to make the project financially feasible.
The Solar Pointe is located near the zoo’s North America Entrance and can be viewed by the zoo’s 750,000 annual visitors, including more than 100,000 school children. Educational graphics include a monitor with direct connection to a Web site that shows a live readout of the actual energy being generated and the pollution being avoided. School groups and the general public can view the information on-site or online.
“The Zoo is pleased to partner with Carolina Solar Energy and Randolph Electric Membership Corporation on this innovative addition to the zoo’s green projects,” said Zoo Director David Jones.
"I believe consumer demand for green power will quickly outpace supply in our state," said CSE owner Richard Harkrader. "One of our goals with this project …is to show that solar power isn’t just for people in California and Nevada; it’s feasible on a large scale right here in North Carolina today."
The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor.