Detroit Edison and Monroe County Community College today announced the signing of a 20-year agreement that will provide the utility’s customers with renewable energy generated from the sun.
A 500-kilowatt, $3 million photovoltaic system will be installed on the east side of campus and should be operational in the spring after design and construction is completed.
The installation is part of Detroit Edison’s pilot SolarCurrents program that calls for photovoltaic systems to be installed on customer property or rooftops over the next five years to generate 15 megawatts of electricity throughout Southeast Michigan.
“We’re pleased that Monroe County Community College will be among the first organizations to participate in SolarCurrents, which is one of the largest distributed solar programs in the country,” said Trevor Lauer, DTE Energy vice president, Marketing & Renewables. “We expect the program to encourage the development of new green energy projects by providing financial incentives to non-residential customers interested in solar energy systems.”
The solar energy systems will be owned, installed, operated and maintained by Detroit Edison. In return, customers will get an annual payment or credit on their energy bill based on the system size, as well as a one-time, upfront construction payment to cover any inconvenience during installation.
The SolarCurrents system at MCCC will also be used as a demonstration for alternative energy education and instruction at the college, providing an opportunity for students to observe a working photovoltaic system that will generate an equivalent amount of power that would be consumed by about 100 homes in a year.
“It’s all about jobs – green jobs,” said MCCC President Dr. David E. Nixon. “This multi-million dollar investment by DTE Energy empowers MCCC to come up with training opportunities related to solar power applications.
“All those solar panels on campus will provide hands on learning opportunities and inspire new curriculum design in solar studies.”
The installation of the system builds on an already-established partnership between DTE Energy and the college to increase the availability of renewable energy training opportunities in the region.
Source: GreeningDetroit.com
Story & photos: Douglas Elbinger