[Press Release] : Invest in Columbia’s solar energy future for $3 a month

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2010
 
CONTACT: Connie Kacprowicz
Utility Services Specialist
(573) 874-7325
 
Invest in Columbia’s solar energy future for $3 a month 
     
(COLUMBIA, MO) – Columbia Water & Light has developed new solar
projects and has 250 new Solar One spots available. Solar One energy is
generated through solar systems located on city-owned property or at
Columbia businesses. Columbia Water & Light purchases the solar energy
from businesses through a power purchase agreement. The extra cost of
this energy is paid for through voluntary subscriptions to the Solar One
program. 
The cost of the new solar projects in Columbia has gone down so the
Columbia City Council approved lowering the cost of Solar One from $4 to
$3.35 a month for a 100 kilowatt hour block of energy. Columbia Water &
Light electric customers can purchase up to nine blocks of Solar One
power. The Solar One charges are added to the customer’s monthly utility
bill. They still pay the normal rate for their electric use. Customers
can sign up for Solar One online by going to GoColumbiaMo.com or by
calling (573) 874-7325.
The Solar One program has grown from 10 kilowatts of energy to 38.3
kilowatts. Quaker Oats has installed an additional 10 kilowatt system,
Bright City Lights has installed 5 kilowatts and there is an additional
13.3 system behind the West Ash pumping station on Bernadette. It is
estimated that the total amount of energy generated for one year will be
37,735 kilowatt hours of solar energy. To get an idea of how much energy
the projects are generating, the average residential customer uses 822
kilowatt hours of electricity in one month.  
By working with local businesses, Columbia Water & Light can provide
more solar energy at a lower cost. Columbia’s commercial buildings have
large rooftops with good solar exposure. Businesses can also take
advantage of incentives for installing solar panels that are not
available to the utility. Columbia Water & Light also supports
individual solar projects with rebates and net metering agreements. 
Columbia has a renewable energy standard that requires increasing
amounts of renewable energy. The requirement started at 2 percent of the
electric supply in 2008 and it grows to 15 percent in 2023. Columbia
Water & Light had almost 5 percent of the electric supply from renewable
energy in 2010. The renewable energy ordinance has a cost cap. The cost
of the renewable energy over traditional energy sources cannot raise
electric rates more than 3 percent. 
 
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