Huntsville
Utilities, TVA Dedicate
Solar Site at Sci-Quest
September 21 , 2001
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Officials of Huntsville Utilities and the Tennessee Valley Authority joined with city and Sci-Quest officials today to dedicate TVA’s seventh solar-powered facility, built as a result of Huntsville Utilities’ participation in a test of renewable energy.
Huntsville Utilities is one of 12 distributors of TVA power participating in a market test measuring consumer response to the sale of electricity generated by renewable resources. Renewable resources include sunlight, wind, and landfill gas. The electricity is sold under the name Green Power Switch.
“Renewables are important for protecting our environment and making our nation more self-reliant in energy, and TVA is proud to join with our public-power partners like Huntsville Utilities to demonstrate renewable energy’s potential here in northern Alabama,” said TVA Director Skila Harris.
“We are proud to be able to partner with TVA to demonstrate the role that renewable energy will play in the future of electric power generation,” said William C. Pippin, general manager for Huntsville Utilities.
The solar generation facility at Sci-Quest has three canopies that support a total of 720 photovoltaic modules. Photovoltaic systems use semiconductor cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity. The solar canopies are located just outside Sci-Quest in a grassy area and have been operating since February 27.
The photovoltaic modules are designed to produce 27 kilowatts of electricity, when operating at full potential. They can produce a total of 41,300 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year—enough energy to supply two to three typical Tennessee Valley homes.
“The solar power demonstration exhibit is a valued additional resource that not only helps Sci-Quest explain the science involved in the production of electric power, but also encourages our young visitors’ to think ‘out-of-the-box’ in considering alternate power sources for the future that are environmentally friendly,” said J. D. Horn, executive director of Sci-Quest.
Huntsville Utilities customers can buy green power in 150-kilowatt-hour blocks, which is about 12 percent of monthly energy use for a typical household. Each block adds $4 to a monthly electric bill. TVA solar sites across the Valley can generate up to 250 kilowatts.
In addition to solar generation, TVA has electricity generated by wind power at Buffalo Mountain near Oliver Springs, Tenn., and a landfill gas generation facility in Middle Tennessee. Ultimately, Green Power Switch will provide up to 9 megawatts of electricity generated by renewable resources.
For more information about Green Power Switch and renewable energy, and to see an online view of the generating facilities at Sci-Quest, visit the Green Power Switch Web site.
Media Contact:
B. J. Gatten, Nashville (615-232-6076) or Media Relations, Knoxville (865-632-6000)
