Focus on Energy: Wisconsin's solar electric systems reach energy milestone

http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=171370

MADISON, Wis. (Sept. 23, 2009) - On Sept. 22, 2009, Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy, celebrated the milestone of achieving a combined solar-electric generation capacity of 2.5 megawatts (MW). To commemorate the milestone Eric Callisto, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, honored the Town of Menasha, Wis., and the Navarino Nature Center of Shiocton, Wis., for contributing to the 2.5 MW with the recent installation of their solar electric systems. Both systems were installed by Energize LLC of Winneconne, Wis. The two projects, along with more than 580 other Focus on Energy co-funded solar electric systems, were completed with technical and financial assistance from Focus.

"The renewable energy industry is booming - In fact, since Focus on Energy started co-funding installations in 2002 it took six years to reach the first MW. Now, in less than two years we've reached a total of 2.5 MW," said Chairperson Callisto. "Hopefully we'll see Wisconsin's job market and economy overall parallel the growth."

In addition to receiving a commemorative plaque marking the 2.5 MW achievement, Chairperson Callisto presented the Town of Menasha with a Focus on Energy incentive check for $50,000, and the Navarino Nature Center with a Focus on Energy incentive check for $30,955. These financial incentives provided by Focus on Energy will be used to defray the cost of the solar electric systems.

The influence of solar electric systems on Wisconsin's energy landscape is significant as they are expected to generate enough electricity to power about 350 average Wisconsin homes a year. Additionally, the systems are offsetting the burning of more than 2,650 tons of coal each year and preventing nearly six million pounds of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere per year. That's equivalent to removing more than 550 cars from the road.

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2.5 megawatts is just sufficient to run 2500 toasters or microwaves simultaneously. Scaling this up is going to take a long, long time.

We must do better. We must do more.

I hope that Maine isn't offended that one of its kids went to school there and never was able to grasp, ever, under no circumstances, no matter how often it was explained that the "Megawatt" is still not a unit of energy.

In fact, the capacity utilization of solar electronic waste on rooftops is almost unquestionably lower than the 10.6% observed in Massachusetts, meaning that after 50 years of talk, talk, talk, talk, talk from anti-science denialists, the entire state of Wisconsin can't match a high school diesel generator for energy.

No wonder they burn so much coal in Wisconsin:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/wisconsin.html

They are burning money on a state sponsored religion, the "solar will save us religion."