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Local News

Solar energy projects generate excitement

By BARBARA GOLDMAN, Staff Writer

Thursday, July 17, 2008 1:35 AM EDT Print this story | Email this story
Fleming-Mason Energy is exploring the possibilities of renewable energy for Kentuckians, with the installation of two photovoltaic units that are utilizing solar power.

Two separate solar powered units have been installed. One unit is a solar water heater and the other is a solar energy panel.

"We want to do whatever we can do to save money for our customers," said Kevin D. Carpenter, director/Community and Economic Development.

Carpenter said East Kentucky Power and 16 Kentucky co-ops have provided the solar panels and made the project possible. Kentucky Solar Living of Richmond installed and services the panels. The cost of the solar heater was $6,800 and the energy panels cost $17,000.

"We're trying to get into renewable energy. It's still experimental," said Carpenter.

"The energy issue is a big issue," said FME CEO Chris Perry.

Kevin Carpenter explains to Teresa Conway how solar panels can power household appliances such as hot water heaters. -- Terry Prather/Staff
Perry said the topics of renewable energy and money keep coming up. This project was coordinated in an effort to explore what renewable energy could mean for FME's customers.

"Let's invest and see what happens. We're getting the data and we want to let people know what's going on," said Perry. "We wanted to see how the panels worked."

Perry said a benefit of the solar panels has already been saving the environment and cutting down on CO2 emissions.

FME has also considered investing in wind farms and is currently working on a methane gas project with the Maysville-Mason County Landfill that is expected to be complete in September, said Perry.

"The balance is at what cost do we do this while still meeting environmental concerns," said Perry.

Perry said 20 percent of customers are below the poverty limit and this raises concerns about people being able to afford their needs.

The two solar panels were put in at no cost to the facilities where they were installed. The panels were each installed with a five-year agreement for the building owners to keep them on and monitor them.

The solar water heating system was installed on the roof of Kid Central located on Frazier Street on March 26. The solar plate collectors utilize sunlight and loop the energy into a pump that deposits into a solar storage water heater inside the facility.

"It's been a really great savings of $50-$75 a month," said Kid Central director and owner Teresa Conway. "It's also a $2,000 tax credit."

According to FME Director of Member Services Mary Beth Nance, the water heater is the second largest heater in the home. The first would be heating and air conditioning.

Conway said Kid Central uses the water heater for cleaning, the washing machine and the dishwasher.

"There've been so many people stopping by that I can share this information with and we get to keep the system," said Conway.

Nance said if Conway is unhappy with the system in five years, it will be disconnected and her conventional heater reinstalled.

"It's been working just great," said Conway. "It keeps costs down and the money goes back to the kids."

Tim Pease, FME mapping engineer and home owner, also participated in the project. Pease and his family live in the Greenbrook subdivision and have had nine solar energy panels installed on the roof of their home.

Pease was asked to participate in the project because of his energy knowledge and ability to help monitor the system.

Pease said the panels have produced 168 kilowatt hours since installed in March. The control panel has a 30-year guarantee.

"In a normal day it averages 10 KW," said Pease.

"My favorite part of this has been the learning experience. It's pretty neat how it all works," said Peace.

Neace said the savings are credited back to homeowner's bill and rolled over month to month.

"It looks like a dollar a day in savings," said Pease. "The panel always comes on no matter what the weather is like."

Contact Barbara Goldman at barbara.goldman@lee.net or by calling 606-564-9091, ext. 274.

Reader Comments

Comments are limited to 200 words or less.

fixed income wrote on Jul 19, 2008 10:02 AM:

" any stats on what it would cost a private person to go with solar panels,?? "

Mamaw wrote on Jul 17, 2008 3:30 AM:

" Solar energy sounds great to me. What happens when we have snow on the roof for long periods in the winter? What about cloudy, rainny days? "


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