Rosecran Air National Guard Base installs 30kW solar system on roof of engine shop
The Missouri Air National Guard is capturing energy from the sun to supplement its electric power needs. This initiative is in response to an executive order requiring that the base use renewable resources for at least 13 percent of their energy consumption by 2013. The order also requires that all federal entities reduce their electric and natural gas consumption by 30 percent within the same timeframe.
The Rosecran Air National Guard Base, home to the 139th Airlift Wing, recently added 30,000 watts of solar power to their engine shop. The Energy Savings Store designed the system using 135 American-made Sharp solar panels, which will produce approximately 4000 kilowatt hours of power per month. For comparative purposes, this is enough electricity to power three or four average size homes. Any excess power produced by the system can be used by other buildings on the base.
The Energy Savings Store also supplied, supervised and supported the installation of the solar panels and other electrical components for the system. Miljavac Electric, a local electrical contractor based in St. Joseph, was the prime contractor on the project, creating local jobs.
Doug Cerra, project engineer in charge of solar energy for the base, said that by the end of 2009, the base is in line to have a total of about 700 panels on five buildings. The combined power capacity of these systems is over 150kW. This is expected to reduce overall electric consumption by about 40%, saving the base approximately $89,000 per year. The solar panels generate the most power in the summer, when the days are longer and the sun is higher in the sky. The solar power will offset the peak power consumption during the hottest months.
You can find additional details in an article in the St. Joe News or watch a news story that aired on KQTV, the St. Joe Channel.
