Solar Generating Site at MTSU To Supply Green Power
June 30, 2005
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro Electric Department and TVA today dedicated the first commercial-scale solar generation system to supply green power to the TVA power system through the Green Power Switch Generation Partners® demonstration project.
The 10-kilowatt solar system, built by MTSU, is the largest of 11 generating sites providing power to TVA’s Green Power Switch® through Generation Partners, a pilot project that allows power consumers to generate and provide green power to TVA. TVA and 18 participating power distributors offer the program to support increased generation of power with renewable resources.
“We welcome MTSU as the first large, commercial Green Power Switch Generation Partner in the Tennessee Valley,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Marketing Jim Keiffer, who praised MED for making the demonstration project available in its service area. “MED not only provides the vital link between the solar generators and the TVA power grid, it provides the technical expertise to ensure that the green power is delivered effectively and safely.”
In addition to being a power generating site, the MTSU solar facility is being used as a research and teaching tool in connection with the university’s alternative fuel vehicle program that includes the production of hydrogen to power experimental vehicles.
“I’m passionate about the utilization of renewable resources,” said Dr. Cliff Ricketts, MTSU professor of Agribusiness and Agriscience and head of the university’s alternative fuel vehicles program. “We are pleased for the opportunity to work with MED and TVA as part of our overall efforts to demonstrate the practicality of alternative resources to power our homes, businesses and automobiles.”
The Generation Partners demonstration is open to new participants through Dec. 31, 2005. Participants receive a credit on their power bill for green power produced from qualifying solar or wind energy generation systems. Residential consumers may also be eligible for a one-time incentive payment of $500 from TVA for participation.
Green Power Switch® is a renewable energy program offered by TVA and 79 local power companies that gives consumers the option of buying green power to supply a portion of the electricity used in their home or business.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power producer and is completely self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve 8.5 million consumers in seven southeastern states.
Media Contact:
Media Contact
Phil Ivey, Nashville, (615) 232-6656
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000
