CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NorthCarolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 (NCMPA1) and its 19 memberorganizations will soon begin providing homes and businesses inShelby, N.C., with clean, renewable solar energy produced by aphotovoltaic project recently acquired by a Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK)commercial business unit.
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NCMPA1, which serves the city of Shelby, will buy all of theoutput from the one-megawatt (MW) Shelby Solar Project under theterms of a 20-year power purchase agreement with Duke EnergyGeneration Services (DEGS), a Duke Energy Commercial Businessesunit.
NCMPA1 will also receive all associated renewable energy credits(RECs) from the project. These RECs help the power agency meet theN.C. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standardrequirement to obtain 0.2 percent of its energy through solarresources by 2018.
"This agreement is a great start to the development of our solarresource portfolio," said Graham Edwards, CEO of ElectriCities, themanagement services organization for NCMPA1. "Solar power is a greatcomplement to our existing power supply portfolio, providing peakpower during the daylight hours, while also helping to maintain ourvery small carbon footprint."
The city of Shelby is providing the land for the project, whichwill be located near the Shelby-Cleveland County Regional Airport.The Shelby City Council has approved leasing the 10-acre site forthe project.
"The City Council was excited to review and approve this solarproject," said Shelby Mayor Ted Alexander. "We are very pleased thatthe city of Shelby can contribute to a project in support ofNCMPA1's renewable energy efforts. This project demonstrates thatShelby is committed to renewable energy and to attract like-mindedbusinesses and industry. It is a boost to the economic developmentof our community."
The Shelby Solar Project will be DEGS' first renewable energyfacility in North Carolina.
"Given the solar farm's close proximity to our headquarters inCharlotte, N.C., adding the Shelby Solar Project to Duke Energy'sgrowing commercial renewable power portfolio is an especiallymeaningful milestone for our company," said DEGS President Woutervan Kempen.
DEGS acquired the project from SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA,SPWRB), a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panelsand solar systems, which designed and is installing the photovoltaicsystem at the Shelby site. The project, which will consist of 4,500ground-mounted crystalline silicon panels, will use SunPowerTracker(R) technology. The Tracker uses a global positioningsatellite system to follow the sun's movement during the day,increasing sunlight capture by up to 25 percent over conventionalfixed-tilt systems, while significantly reducing land userequirements.
The Shelby Solar Project is expected to be completed andenergized by late May 2010. The facility's one MW direct currentoutput - equivalent to 0.94 MW alternating current - will generateenough electricity to power approximately 140 homes on an annualbasis.
No financial terms were disclosed.
The Shelby Solar Project will be DEGS' second commercial solarpower project. Earlier this year, DEGS acquired the 16-MW (14-MWalternating current) Blue Wing Solar Project in San Antonio, Texas.Blue Wing is scheduled to begin producing electricity for SanAntonio-based CPS Energy, one of the largest municipality-ownedutilities in the U.S., by the fourth quarter of 2010.
DEGS' renewable energy initiatives are separate from theactivities of Duke Energy Carolinas, which is part of Duke Energy'sregulated business. Duke Energy Carolinas is installing solar panelson select business and residential customers' properties as part ofa $50 million program approved by the North Carolina UtilitiesCommission in May 2009.
About NCMPA1
North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 (NCMPA1) - Morethan 70 North Carolina public power communities, municipally ownedand operated electric systems, serve more than 500,000 residential,commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina. Most havebeen providing reliable electric service for 100 years or more.NCMPA1 has 19 member cities in the western part of North Carolina.More information about NCMPA1 is available at www.ncpublicpower.com.
About DEGS and Duke Energy
Duke Energy Generation Services is a leader in developinginnovative renewable energy solutions, including wind, solar andbiopower projects. DEGS builds, owns and operates electricgeneration for large energy consumers, municipalities, utilities andindustrial facilities. DEGS is also working to build commercialtransmission capacity to help the U.S. meet its energy needs of thefuture.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK.More information about the company is available on the Internet at:www.duke-energy.com. To learn more and contribute to the discussionabout the energy issues of today and the possibilities of tomorrowsee www.sheddingalight.org.
MEDIA CONTACTSDuke Energy__ Greg Efthimiou__ 704-382-1925
__ 24-Hour__ 800-559-3853
NCMPA1__ Rebecca Agner__ 919-760-6334
SOURCE Duke Energy
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