Practicality of Building Solar Plants At Existing Government Facilities Is Demonstrated WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ — Pepco Energy Services and Applied Power Corp. announce the completion of one the largest thin film photovoltaic systems in the country. The project was built for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) at the Suitland Federal Center in Maryland, near Washington, DC. “The General Services Administration is proud to dedicate this system in support of the President’s Million Solar Roof Initiative,” said GSA’s Nelson Alcalde, Regional Administrator for the National Capital Region. “We believe this installation is a model of flexibility and adaptability of solar projects, and GSA will showcase this site as an educational model of how the Federal government can be a good neighbor by quickly improving the environmental standards of the Suitland community.” Pepco Energy Services, a wholly-owned, separately managed subsidiary of the Potomac Electric Power Company (NYSE: POM – news), served as the general contractor and project manager of the system while Applied Power Corp., a subsidiary of IDACORP (NYSE: IDA – news) designed, procured and installed the equipment. The GSA funded the generation station to support the Planet GSA program, the President’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative and the goals of Executive Order 13123. “Pepco Energy Services has worked closely with the GSA to develop this new source of renewable energy,” said Ed Mayberry, President of Pepco Energy Services. “We are looking forward to expand on this successful project, which has been the result of innovation and teamwork on the part of Pepco Energy Services and our partners.” The photovoltaic power system includes 2,800 modules that convert sunlight into 100 kilowatts of pollution-free electric power. The solar array is comprised of an advanced amorphous silicon technology, which offers the promise of further reducing the costs of solar panels. The solar-generated electricity will offset power used from other sources to provide clean energy for the central cooling plant at the Suitland Federal Center. The PV system installation is supported, in part, by funding from the Department of Energy through an award from the Utility PhotoVoltaic Group’s TEAM-UP program “We are pleased to have been a part of the team for this important project, and commend Pepco Energy Services and the GSA for their commitment to sustainable energy solutions,” said John Elting, President of Applied Power Corp. “Our company is dedicated to bringing forward successful large scale utility projects such as this.” The project has clearly demonstrated the practicality and benefits of incorporating solar power into existing facilities. Working together, Pepco Energy Services and Applied Power have reclaimed an abandoned cooling pond and turned a rusted tangle of pipes into a source of clean power generation that complements the landscaping. Every megawatt-hour of energy produced by the system offsets 2,120 lbs. of CO2 that would have been otherwise produced by coal fired generation sources. The energy produced by the system reduces overall electric demand at the facility and supports other energy saving measures implemented at the site. Pepco Energy Services provides commercial, institutional and government customers a complete suite of integrated energy management solutions including electricity and natural gas; energy assessments; energy information systems; fuel management services; heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; lighting; project financing; and energy operations and maintenance services. In 1999, Pepco Energy Services was awarded over $500 million dollars in energy and energy-related service contracts and has completed energy efficiency projects from Connecticut to North Carolina. Visit http://www.pepcoenergy.com for more information on Pepco Energy Services. Applied Power Corporation is North America’s leading photovoltaic system supplier bringing clean energy to industry, businesses, utilities, homeowners, and government. Applied Power provides innovative and dependable solar power systems and has more than 19 years experience in system design, engineering installation, project development, training, and consulting. Corporate headquarters are in Lacey, Washington with additional offices in Washington state, California, Colorado and Massachusetts. Applied Power is a subsidiary of IDACORP, an energy-focused holding company that includes Idaho Power Company. News releases and other information about Applied Power Corporation are available on its Web site at http://www.appliedpower.com. For more information about the GSA, visit its web site at http://ncr.gsa.gov, or contact Gary Caruso at 202-260-4227. Pepco Energy Services, Inc., is not the same company as Potomac Electric Power Company and prices and services of Pepco Energy Services, Inc., are not set by the Public Service Commission. SOURCE: Pepco Energy Service and Applied Power Corporation
