The recently completed Routt County, (Steamboat Springs, Colorado) Justice Center has installed a 26.25 kW photovoltaic (PV) solar system, which will provide 10% of the building’s total electrical need. The County’s Justice Center becomes the first commercial size solar system in the Yampa Valley and is the county’s first publicly owned renewable energy project.

The solar electric system consists of one hundred and sixty fifty 160-watt Sharp photovoltaic (PV) modules. The PV array was installed using an adjustable racking system, which allows the panels to be tilted at angles of 45 and 15 degrees to shed snow in the winter and deliver maximum performance in the summer. The system was mounted on two separate roof planes. Each location provides optimal solar access and accessibility to required facility interconnection points, while not impinging on the architectural integrity of the facility.

In a unique arrangement, Routt County signed a Renewable Energy Credits sale contract with Xcel Energy. The utility purchased the Solar REC’s to satisfy the state’s renewable portfolio standard. The contract is worth approximately $152,000 over a 20-year contract and will be paid to Routt County each month as the “green power” is generated. This contract allows the County to hedge against rising electricity rates.

The system was installed by a partnership of solar companies: Denver-based SolSource, Inc. (www.solsourceinc.com), Steamboat Springs based, Emerald Mountain Energy, and Denver-based Green Power provided electrical contracting services.

Specifications

Installation Type: Flat roof solar array, with adjustable racking system
Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
Date Completed: October, 2007
System Size: 26.25 kW

PV Panel: Sharp ND160U1Z
Inverter: Fronius IG
Power Generated (25 yr. life of system): 863,775
Savings: $238,401 (over life of system)

Environmental Benefits

• Reducing 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over a 25 year period
• Equal to eliminating over 2.2 million auto driving miles.

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