Thursday, June 25, 2009

Arizona's El Pueblo Neighborhood Center gets solar

With the El Pueblo Activity Center crowded with kids at noon on a hot summer day, it's a small wonder the building would be using more solar energy than at any other time.

Now, however, the building is also producing electricity through 465 solar panels on the roof, enough to power 14 homes and supply 20% of the activity center's needs.

El Pueblo, 101 W. Irvington Rd., is the first of seven major solar projects in the city to be up and running.

The rest will be operating by December.

Tucson's mayor says it's only the beginning.

"The public is demanding it, so you're gonna see a major movement toward renewable sources throughout the city," said Bob Walkup, mayor of Tucson.

The seven solar projects cost $4.7-million, 60% of which is funded by incentives from Tucson Electric Power and much of the rest by state and federal tax credits.

"Our customers want us to go in this direction," explains Paul Bonavia, president, chairman and CEO of Tucson Electric Power. "We think we're solving a very real problem by advancing renewable energy, and we think it's good business for our company."

To view updated information about the electric production at El Pueblo, click on the link with this story.

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