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Solar panels are now
generating electricity in downtown McKenzie. Atop the building of McKenzie’s
oldest industry, the 10Kilowatt array, consisting of 42 solar panels, began
generating “green” electricity on December 28 at 9:00 a.m.
Electricity generated
from the panels runs through an electrical meter and then connects to the grid
of Carroll County Electric, where it is distributed as needed throughout the
grid. While the panels sit atop the roof of The Banner at 3 Banner Row,
the electric is not necessarily consumed at The Banner, which is connected to a
three-phase system of the CCED while the solar panels generate single phase..
If power is terminated to the electrical grid, the panels temporarily
cease operating and, likewise, the power at the newspaper office is
terminated until power is restored to Carroll County’s electrical system.
Students enrolled in the Electronics and Green Technology class at the Tennessee Technology Center at McKenzie installed the panels last week at The McKenzie Banner. They assisted in the planning, design and installation of the system. Their work involved calculating the angle of the fixed-position panels to achieve the most exposure to sunlight. The lightweight panels also had to properly secure because the surface area can act as a wing and develop lift during high winds.
The students at TTC placed a second meter base on the side of the building. Carroll County Electric will read both meters – one for consumption inside the building to operate printing presses, folders, computers, and environmental systems. The second meter measures the amount of electricity generated by the panels and placed back on the grid.
The McKenzie Banner purchased the panels, electrical inverters, and mounting hardware from Mainstream Green Solutions in Lexington. The Sharp brand panels were manufactured in Memphis. All electrical supplies were purchased from Power Supply in McKenzie.
According to Mainsteam Green, “due to a combination of TVA’s Generation Partner Program and the 30% federal tax credit incentive, solar gives a steady return on investment that beats Bank CD and annuity rates. It can also give you a measure of “insurance” against future electric rate increases by selling your solar generation back to TVA at prices currently more than double what you pay for your incoming power. As the power rates go up, so does your solar credit. TVA contracts for a premium payment for 10 years. Many people want to have “zero” electric bill, and in most cases going off-grid isn’t the right financial choice. A “zero” electric bill is much easier to achieve with TVA’s program, as you only have to generate about half of your power usage to have a credit equal to your usage charges. Some of our clients receive checks every month, quarter, or year for the power they’ve sold to TVA in excess of their billed usage. As a general rule, you can expect to receive an average $25/month electric bill credit for every Kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed.”
The Banner is the first commercial business in McKenzie with a solar installation. Other arrays include one at the Ray and Linda Morris Science Building on the Bethel University campus, and a small array at the Tennessee Technology Center at McKenzie. Both installations are supplemented with small wind turbine generators.
Ryan Drewry of Carroll County Electric said there are five active solar systems connected to CCED’s grid. The solar customer is credited each month for solar generation. Depending on the size of the grid, there are months, such as in the longer daylight hours of the summer, in which the customer may generate more electricity than consumed. If the customer has a credit balance on December 31, then the customer will receive a check in January from Carroll County Electric for that amount.
For the year 2013, approved solar systems built and completed in that year are eligible to receive nine cents above the retail rate as a premium for electricity generated by the array. That rate is effective for the first 10 years, said Drewry. The next 10 years, the customer will receive the retail rate per kilowatt-hour.
The Banner was approved for a higher rate of 12 cents above the retail rate per kilowatt-hour for completing the system prior to December 31, 2012. That rate is effective for the first 10 years of the contract.
Bruce Moore, instructor of the Electronics and Green Technology, explained that the students get real-world experience in the installation of the solar array. On this installation, they learned the challenges of working in both moderate and frigid weather, including a day when ice had to be swept from the roof prior to working. They also learned about a new installation system that was implemented with the McKenzie install. The students also installed an array in downtown Medina and a small array at a daycare in Milan.
Students participating
in the install were: Joseph Redmon, Terry Campbell, Mark Baucom, Joseph
Thompson, Gary Dueland, Jimmy Tosh, Blake Roberson, Jason Wylie, Tyler Dunning, and instructor
Bruce Moore, plus Mainstream representative Scott Herndon and his son.
Joel Washburn, managing
editor of The McKenzie Banner, said the solar system would generate on average
about $250 monthly in revenue. That compares to the $300 annually the
equivalent investment was earning in a money market account.
Additionally, the business gains the benefit of depreciation, $1,000 incentive
from the electric company, and tax credits from the federal government.
TVA provides a premium rate from “green” production. The pay back is five
to eight years, depending on the number of sunny days and what tax rates
Congress set.
The Banner’s panels are
only visible from ground level where the CSX railroad track, Main Street, and
Walnut Avenue intercept.
