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Sun gives a charge to new Pecos Park Community Center in Phoenix, Arizona

December 12th, 2006 by kalyan89 in PV-General

Kerry Fehr-Snyder, The Arizona Republic
Dec. 9, 2006
Source: Arizona central.com
http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/1209phx-solar1209Z3.html

Phoenix officials are taking advantage of the state’s seemingly limitless sunshine to power its soon-to-open community center in Ahwatukee Foothills. Solar panels were installed recently on the roof of the $10.3 million Pecos Park Community Center. The 30-kilowatt unit will supply 20 percent of the facility’s power needs at peak times. In addition to reducing its demand for non-renewable power, the project is designed to educate the public about the possibilities of solar power.

“We’re going to have thousands of residents come through Pecos Park, and that will be an opportunity to teach people about renewable energy,” said Erik Kropp, deputy public works director for Phoenix. The center will have a flat-panel display mounted inside that describes how solar energy, also known as photovoltaic arrays, works to power electrical systems within the building. The system cost $300,000. The city paid 70 percent and SRP picked up the remainder.

Dimitrios Laloudakis, the city’s energy management superintendent, said SRP will receive “green credits” generated by the project, while the city gets the power. Green credits are used to offset power consumption from burning fossil fuel and so-called other non-renewable energy sources. The contract with SRP calls for the utility to maintain the system for 10 years, after which the city may renew the contract or take over its maintenance.

The system is a demonstration project to “learn more about the solar technology and also to demonstrate the city’s ability to use renewable resources,” Laloudakis said. Included on the flat-panel display to be mounted inside the building will be explanations of how many homes or cars could be powered with the 30-kilowatt solar system. “It’s more effective to explain it in terms of homes powered or average cars,” Kropp said.

Installation of the solar panels was delayed by several months because demand for solar electricity has soared.The 38,600-square-foot Pecos Park Community Center near 48th Street and Pecos Road is expected to open later this month, with a grand opening planned for early January.

The facility will include a gymnasium with a full-size basketball court, a fitness center, a computer lab where classes will be offered, a cafe, a game room with video games and table tennis, a police substation with 31 officers and six sergeants and a new Ahwatukee Senior Center to replace the one in a strip mall at 51st Street and Elliot Road.

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