Solar panels now for lease through GCEA

Ribbon-cutting adds touch of solar ‘flair’

You’ve heard of an octopus’ garden in the shade? How ‘bout a solar garden in the blazing sun?

Solar energy is coming to Crested Butte in a big way, symbolically if not wattage-wise. This Thursday, July 10, at 11 a.m., representatives from the town of Crested Butte and Gunnison County Electric Association will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to christen 20 solar panels—The Solar Garden—now available for lease from the Gunnison County Electric Association co-op. The garden is located at 801 Belleview, near the bus barn in Crested Butte.
“They’re in place and operational and we’re offsetting people’s bills as of July 1,” said Roger Grogg, chief of operations for GCEA. “We have four leased so far.” One of the four belongs to the town of Crested Butte. The town’s lease was not purchased, but acquired in trade. “They gave us the space,” he said.
“We’re hoping we can offset the cost of energy at the Headworks building treatment plant,” said director of public works Rodney Due. It’s too early to tell how much money the town will save, but Due says even modest savings will help.
The clarifier building where the panels are located at the wastewater treatment plant facility was constructed with a roof pitch designed to accommodate solar panels, so it’s nice, Due said, to now be taking advantage of that.
“They’ll generate 13 to 18 cents per panel per day, at today’s rates,” said Grogg. A 20-year lease on a single panel costs $1,100. Grogg said that customers stand to save a total of $150 to $200 per panel on electricity over that time-span, as each panel produces 250 watts every four hours.
“We also have a number of customers who have their own renewable systems, either solar, wind or micro-hydro power,” said Grogg. Customers who generate more power than they use can be credited for the extra.
“We create a bank of kilowatt hours for them,” said Grogg. “It works out great for people who are not here four or five months a year.” If a customer still has wattage “in the bank” when GCEA’s fiscal year is complete in April, then the power co-op cuts them a check.
If interested in leasing one of the solar panels, contact the GCEA at 641-3520.