Living Cincy Landmark goes Solar

[irishbobcat]

Living Cincy Landmark goes Solar

At Findlay Market in downtown Cincinnati the vegetables aren't the only things that are green. This historic market in the Over-the-Rhine area of Cincinnati recently completed and dedicated a major solar energy project with the help of the Duke Energy Corporation, a $73,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development Advanced Energy Fund and the City of Cincinnati, which owns the market.
The 21.66 kilowatt project is the largest photovoltaic array in Ohio installed on a building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is mounted on the roof of Ohio's oldest public market started in 1855 and consists of 114 individual solar panels which will generate electricity for use in the historic market house. Any excess power generated will be net metered back to the electric utility grid.
Robert J. Pickford is the President and CEO of the Corporation for Findlay Market, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization incorporated in 2000. Bob came to Cincinnati after running a regional food co-operative in the Columbus, Ohio area. His background includes more than 25 years in the food industry managing wholesale and retail food businesses and working with volunteer boards of directors. He brings a wealth of experience to this position.
Besides running the actual day-to-day activities of the market itself, he is responsible for continuous improvement of the market and the surrounding areas of the market, including development of vacant properties in the area and assisting in new business start-ups.
Bob is very enthusiastic about what he does. He has many good ideas on how to improve the market area and he is working with his marketing director to develop ways to attract new vendors and shoppers. This solar project will be a great way to bring attention once again to this historic market.
The Market plans to open a kiosk which will contain information about the market history, including information on renewable energy. Then shoppers can pick up literature about renewable energy, take it home and consider it for their own dwellings.
The Findlay Market solar energy system consists of two 10 by 100 foot sub-arrays mounted on the south facing roof of each wing of the market house. Each sub-array is comprised of three rows of nineteen poly-crystalline silicon solar panels. Each panel generates 190 watts of DC electricity. The DC current is then converted to usable AC by utility interactive power inverters inside the market house and fed into the market house electrical system, or back to the utility grid.
This installation has an expected life of at least 30 years. By replacing electricity generated by fossil fuels, the Findlay Market solar energy system offsets more than 52,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year, or more than 780 tons of carbon dioxide during the life of the installation.
Some of the additional benefits to be realized from this project include the following:
Will compliment other sustainable initiatives
Will provide public education regarding solar, carbon-free energy resources and sustainability for dozens of public tours and more than 300,000 visitors to Findlay Market each year
Will generate attention and positive press about Findlay Market
Will contribute to reduced utility costs
Will reduce carbon footprint and improve regional air quality
Will help reduce utility peak load demand
Findlay Market is more than a century and a half old but it is not merely a historic monument. It is a living landmark visited by thousands of shoppers every week. The solar energy project aesthetically blends the market's iron-framed 19th century structure with leading edge energy technology. This project links Findlay Market's rich past to a forward-looking future as one of the most important assets in Cincinnati's urban core and a critical element of the city's emerging downtown renaissance.
Third Sun Solar and Wind Power, based in Athens, Ohio, installed the Findlay Market solar energy system and will provide any maintenance the system will need. Because there are no moving parts, little maintenance is expected. The solar panels were manufactured in the United States by Evergreen Solar, Inc. in Marlboro, Massachusetts.
For additional information about Findlay Market please call 513-665-4839 or go to www.findlaymarket.org

It is possible to go solar........when will we do it in our neighborhood?

Dennis Spisak
Mahoning Valley Green Party
Ohio Green Party

www.ohiogreens.org

www.votespisak.org/thinkgreen/