Ole Miss Intramural Fields Become TVA Green Power Site
October 21, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. – The intramural fields that promote healthy living and friendly competition among University of Mississippi students are home to TVA’s latest source of renewable energy.
A canopy of solar photovoltaic cells, which doubles as a source of shade for intramural spectators, was completed in September and generates up to 30 kilowatts of electricity – enough to supply up to four homes.
“This program demonstrates how TVA, power distributors, and the environmental community can work together to find ways to use renewable energy sources to produce electricity,” said TVA Chairman Glenn McCullough, Jr.
“We are proud to partner with the University of Mississippi and TVA to promote green power by finding a way to use a renewable energy source to produce electricity,” said Oxford Mayor Richard Howorth.
Electricity generated by the solar modules goes into the City of Oxford Electric Department’s distribution system and into the TVA power grid.
“By hosting the equipment for this forward-looking program, the University of Mississippi is doing even more to share the benefits of tomorrow with our state today,” Terron Jones, with the University of Mississippi physical plant, said.
The Green Power Switch® program allows residential and commercial customers to purchase power generated from renewable energy sources like wind, sun, and methane gas. The City of Oxford Electric Department and North East Mississippi Electric Power Association are the local power distributors in Mississippi that currently offer Green Power Switch to their customers.
“North East Mississippi Electric Power Association is excited about the prospect of having a local generating source for the Green Power Switch program,” said NMEPA General Manager Robert Collier.
Power is generated by the photovoltaic systems via modules that convert sunlight directly into electricity. The photovoltaic cells are arrayed in flat panels that can be mounted on rooftops or canopies or integrated into roofing shingles and other building materials.
Green Power Switch is sold to more than 5,900 residential customers and more than 280 business customers throughout the Tennessee Valley. A total of 47 power distributors in the TVA service area are offering the renewable energy option to customers of TVA power.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power producer, and its power system is self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve 8.3 million consumers in seven southeastern states.
Media Contact:
Amy Tate, Starkville, MS (662-338-3999) or TVA News Bureau, Knoxville (865-632-6000)
