MSP VISIONS

SOLAR ENERGY : SUSTAINABLE AND ECONOMICAL	Summer 2010

As demand for energy increases, traditional energy
sources such as fossil fuels are becoming scarcer.
Therefore, it’s important to find alternative sources of
energy that are both environmentally friendly and still economically viable. An excellent alternative energy
source is solar energy.

Photovoltaic Systems
Solar energy is not a new concept, and scientists have been finding ways to harness the power of the sun’s
energy for centuries. One way to utilize solar energy is through the use of photovoltaic systems. Photovoltaic systems use solar electric panels to directly convert the sun’s energy into electricity. This conversion of sunlight to electricity is pollution free, and occurs silently and without moving parts.

Photovoltaic modules are usually rectangular devices
ranging in size from 2’ by 4’ to 4’ by 8’. Most photovoltaic systems are used in conjunction with utility-supplied power. Most often, photovoltaic panels are installed on roofs, but they can also be installed as free-standing units, mounted on the ground or incorporated into parking lots.

Sol Ventus: A Solar Energy Provider
In order to offer clients the ability to reap the benefits of solar power, McGill Smith Punshon, Inc. (MSP) has
become a prime consultant for Sol Ventus Partners, LLC*. Sol Ventus is an Independent Power Producer who partners with organizationsto install a photovoltaic solar power system – or solar array – on their property.

If a client is interested in a solar array, MSP begins by performing a feasibility study (using a computerized shade study) to determine if a solar array is viable for them, and, if so, the best way to utilize solar energy on their property (rooftop, ground, parking lot, etc.). MSP then designs a site layout for the solar array.

Once feasibility and site design are determined, a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is made between Sol Ventus and the client, in which a solar array is placed on the client’s property at no cost to the client. The solar array will then reduce the cost of electricity for the site, as well as reduce the “peak demand” for electricity (which energy providers use to determine their rates).

“A Sol Ventus solar array will provide, on average, a 15-18% cost savings on all electricity produced from the array,” explains Dave Chrestensen, President of Sol Ventus Partners, LLC. “And most importantly, using solar energy greatly reduces your carbon footprint, making an organization more environmentally friendly."

Such Power Purchase Agreements have been common for years on the West and East coasts, and have more recently been gaining momentum in Ohio. Ohio now offers state grants to aid in the financing of solar arrays, in addition to the federal grants that are available. Since Ohio’s Electric Energy Policy (Senate Bill 221) requires that by 2025, 25% of electricity sold in Ohio must be generated from alternative energy
sources, solar arrays will continue to gain in popularity.

Since Power Purchase Agreements require long-term commitments, the best candidates are organizations
such as schools, universities, or institutions with long-term outlooks. MSP has recently worked on Sol
Ventus solar array projects for Adams County/Ohio Valley School District, and are currently working on projects for Dayton Public Schools and Fairborn City Schools.

For more information about solar arrays, or to inquire about a feasibility study that can help determine if a
solar array is right for your organization, please call Craig Rambo, MSP’s Chairman of the Board, at
513-759-0004, or by email at crambo@mcgillsmithpunshon.com

* For your information, MSP is a consultant to Sol Ventus, a company that provides a service of leasing rooftop or ground space from institutions or companies in order to install solar panels for the purpose of providing electricity to that organization at a cost savings. MSP is paid a fee to bring opportunities to Sol Ventus and to provide professional services to design the installation and prepare documents for approval by governmental jagencies.

Links:

Solar Energy International
http://www.solarenergy.org

U.S. Department of Energy – Solar Energy Technologies Program
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar

Sol Ventus Partners, LLC
http://www.solventuspartners.com

Kastle Electric Company - Solar and Wind
http://www.kastle-group.com/solarandwind

SCHOTT Solar
http://www.schottsolar.com