Monday, January 11, 2010

We need more of these

Upstate (nearer to Baltimore than I am), Staples has a distribution center now covered with solar panels. Biggest solar panel installation in the whole Free State, according to the article:


Maryland's Largest Single Rooftop Solar Power Installation Unveiled at Staples Fulfillment Center in Hanover

"The environmental savings associated with the system will offset more than 43 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) over 20 years, equivalent to removing CO2 produced by more than 4,200 automobiles driving 12,000 miles per year. The zero-emission, silent photovoltaic system will generate approximately 1.2 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, and 21 million kWh during the initial 20 years of the project. The solar installation was financed, built and maintained under a power purchase agreement (PPA) with SunEdison. Under the PPA, Staples will purchase the electricity produced for the term of the contract."

OK, now I have lots of ideas about what a "fulfillment center" might mean... but disregarding that, this is a great idea. There are lots and lots of these business parks with buildings with flat roofs that do nothing but bake under the sun. Imagine if a lot of them were covered with solar panels, at least generating the electricity for the air-conditioning in the summer.

That would be so easy -- and it would save oil. A lot of oil.

Conservation and alternate energy and nuclear -- is the way to stop man-made global warming.

By the way, a "fulfillment center" takes orders from customers and fills them.

How mundane.

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