Consumer Energy Alliance

Consumer Energy Alliance Applauds Major Solar Installment In the Heart of Houston

CEA president says surrounding communities should take notes on the new solar pilot project

HOUSTON – July 31, 2009 This week, the city of Houston formally unveiled a new major solar installment, housed on the roof of the George R. Brown Convention Center, and expected to generate significant quantities of electricity over the next several years.

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) president David Holt issued the following statement today applauding the city’s exciting new pilot program:

“For a city like Houston, harnessing the enormous power from a limitless generation source like the sun not only makes good strategic and planning sense, but thanks to the way this project has been managed, it makes good financial sense as well. The example set forth by the city of Houston with this project is one of which surrounding communities, states and even countries would do well to take close note.”

The installment signals the start of a 100-kilowatt pilot program that will generate an annual electricity equivalent needed to fully power 100 homes, every bit of it originating from the convention center rooftop. The program will be managed by the Houston Advanced Research Center, which will provide analysis and updates of day-to-day developments with the project.

“The Solar Energy Pilot Program will collect, analyze and report data related to two different solar energy systems. It is important for all of us to learn how different systems perform in the Houston environment,” said Richard Haut, PhD, Senior Research Scientist from the Houston Advanced Research Center.

Added Holt: “CEA applauds Houston Mayor Bill White and groups such as the Houston Advanced Research Center for having the foresight to develop a pilot program of this scale, and the commitment to see this critical project all the way through completion.”

The pilot project will consist of 270 photovoltaic solar panels and 360 thin film panels and has been initiated thanks to $1 million in private sector funding.

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