Volume 21, Number 2
April 2002

What's inside?

  • SMUD Solar Pioneer program booms
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The Energy Services Bulletin is published by the Western Area Power Administration (Western) for the information of Agency customers. The mailing address is Western Area Power Administration, POB 281213, Lakewood, CO 80228-8213; the telephone number is (720) 962-7060.
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Editor:
Nancy Mitchell

Graphic Designer:
Grant Kuhn
Energy Services Masthead

SMUD Solar Pioneer program booms

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District's Solar Pioneer program is booming as its customers respond to California's energy crisis. In January, SMUD announced it recently reached the 10-megawatt milestone in solar electric power installations. That's enough to meet the annual needs of more than 3,300 homes.

The energy produced by more than 1,000 solar-powered systems represents more than half of all grid-connected photovoltaic systems in the United States. Customer interest in alternative energy sources surged during California's energy crisis and helped SMUD expand its PV Pioneer program faster than expected. With this achievement, SMUD continues to lead the nation in local solar installations.

SMUD's PV Pioneer program helps customers install photovoltaic cells on their rooftops, and the power generated from the installations is net metered, allowing customers to be paid for electricity they generate but do not use. Net metering can cause the customer's meter to spin backward in some cases.

"This demonstrates how solar electric systems can be a practical and cost-effective part of our energy crisis solution and how solar can provide real benefits to our customers," said Donald Osborn, SMUD renewable generation superintendent.

More than 2,000 additional SMUD customers signed letters of intent to purchase their own net metered systems in 2001—10 times the number of letters signed in 2000. SMUD has tripled its staff and contractors to help meet the demand.

SMUD has partnered with local homebuilders to incorporate PV energy roofs in new home subdivisions. Under SMUD's Solar Advantage Home program, production homebuilders can offer new buyers commercially built homes that come with PV roofs as a standard feature.

The systems are now available in 15 Sacramento new home communities. So far, nine builders have committed to building 133 homes producing 275 kilowatts. More than 20 of these homes were completed in 2001.

SMUD's significant 2001 solar projects

  • 390 kW installed in 15-kW units on each of the 26 barns at Cal Expo. This system provides power for the fairgrounds.
  • A 12-kW PV system integrated into the new East End State Office Building in downtown Sacramento--the first building-integrated PV system included as part of the design and construction of a new, large commercial building in the western United States.
  • More than 200-kW on 20 churches and other nonprofit organizations.
  • A 28-kW array atop SMUD's Customer Service Center. A 10-kW system for a local television channel that powers the weather tower's forecast display.

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Web Sites

For more information, call SMUD's Dave Bisbee at 916-732-6409.