Detroit Edison and Monroe County Community College have signed a 20-year agreement that will provide the utility’s customers with renewable energy generated from the sun.
A 500-kilowatt, $3-million photovoltaic system will be installed on the east side of campus and should be operating in the spring after design and construction are completed. The installation is part of Detroit Edison’s pilot Solar Currents program that calls for photovoltaic systems to be installed on customer property or rooftops over the next five years to generate 15 megawatts of electricity throughout southeast Michigan.
Last week, Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of DTE Energy, announced that it is planning to build a 200-kilowatt, $1-million solar installation on the roof of a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan parking structure in downtown Detroit.
“We’re pleased that Monroe County Community College will be among the first organizations to participate in Solar Currents, which is one of the largest distributed solar programs in the country,” said Trevor Lauer, DTE Energy vice president, marketing and renewable.
Detroit Edison plans to invest more than $100 million in the program, which requires customers to participate for 20 years. The solar energy systems will be owned, installed, operated and maintained by the utility. In return, customers will get an annual payment or credit on their energy bill based on the systems size, as well as a onetime, upfront construction payment to cover any inconvenience during installation.
The Freep, July 25, 2010
