COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED MEDIUM SUN

Midsize Solar Installations Grow At Light Speed
Lauren Sommer, March 16, 2011 (National Public Radio)

"…Turkeys are the name of the game at [Tim] Nilsen Farms. But…[it] is also serving up…solar energy for about 750 homes in [Sacramento, CA]…because the property is also home to an 8-acre solar array…

"…A lot of customers want solar, but for one reason or another, they would rather not have panels on their house, says Jim Burke, a program manager for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District…Burke says it became apparent that…a larger facility…take[s] advantage of the economies of scale…"

The Nilsen Farm solar array (click to enlarge)

"Renewable power is on the rise across the country. But for states with ambitious clean energy goals like California, it isn't growing fast enough. That has them turning to a new kind of renewable project — midsized solar farms. Many are calling it the ‘Goldilocks’ of renewable energy…

"Much like community-supported agriculture, the array in Sacramento is a community-supported solar project. Customers, many of whom are interested in the environmental benefits, pay an average of $11 more a month for electricity from these solar panels, which are only 30 miles from downtown Sacramento. The idea is catching on."

The Sunset Reservoir solar array (click to enlarge)

"…San Francisco…recently turned on the brand new Sunset Reservoir solar array. It's the size of 12 football fields, which is not too big…[and] not too small…[but] just right…[I]t was tough at first to get people interested…Most of the financing was going to huge solar farms that cover hundreds of acres…[but had] a complex permitting process in California…[M]idsized projects avoid [such]problems. They're built faster than large solar farms… installation costs are still relatively cheap [and there are fewer difficulties with transmission]…

"…[I]n Arizona and New Jersey…interest in these "Goldilocks" solar farms is [also] growing…[L]arge solar farms aren't going away anytime soon, but midsize solar is on the rise, thanks to falling prices for solar panels…California has launched a program to develop more of these solar projects…because with a long-term goal of one-third renewable energy by 2020, the state is looking for solar energy that can move fast."