Archive for May, 2008

Solar Panels ‘responsible thing ‘ to do

May 4, 2008 at 2:25 pm · Filed under solar energy ·Tagged , , ,

Keener Oil solar panels ‘responsible thing’ to do

Courtesy / Keener Oil & Gas Co.

Solar panels atop the Keener Oil & Gas Co. building could sometimes produce enough electricity for sale to AEP-PSO.

By JASON WOMACK Tulsa World Staff Writer
3/18/2008

Putting a row of solar panels along the south side of his office building was a way of demonstrating that alternative energy is important and practical, oilman Dewey Bartlett Jr. says.

Bartlett, president of Keener Oil & Gas Co., had the panels installed last week after years of contemplating how he could best use energy sources other than fossil fuels.

“It’s a responsible thing for us in the energy industry to do,” he said. “We’re not just focused on oil and natural gas.”

The installation marks a first for American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma. Keener Oil & Gas, 1648 S. Boston Ave., is the utility’s only commercial customer in Tulsa to tie into its grid on a two-way basis.

“This is the first commercial customer set up to send power back to us,” said AEP-PSO spokesman Stan Whiteford.

On days when Bartlett’s building does not use all the power collected by the panels, the energy actually will be transferred into the utility’s system. The building’s meter will run backwards, and Keener Oil’s electricity bill will be credited. But on most days, the solar panels will supplement the power that Keener purchases from AEP-PSO.

Bartlett expects to shave up to 30 percent off the company’s electricity bills, which run $800 to $1,200 per month.

And the utility couldn’t be happier.

Whiteford said AEP-PSO encourages energy efficiency among its customers and is in the process of developing a demand-side management program, which will include incentives for customers who take steps to conserve electricity.

Bartlett anticipates that Keener Oil will eventually be able to recoup its investment of about $40,000 to install the solar panels and related equipment atop the building. The total expense will also be reduced through tax benefits that he says will total about $17,000.

“If we get paid back in five years, I’ll be happy,” Bartlett said.

Sun City Solar Energy LLC installed the panels. Deanna Christ, general manager of the Tulsa-based company, said more and more people are becoming interested in using solar energy to power their homes and businesses.

The outfit has installed solar panels for a number of Tulsa clients and, over the last year, has opened offices in Oklahoma City and Springdale, Ark.

Christ said that many of Sun City’s customers are concerned about U.S. reliance on foreign sources of energy.

“They’re interested in Americans becoming more energy independent,” she said.

Sun City Solar has also garnered interest from those in the traditional energy industry.

“People in the energy industry know we are not finding new reserves” as rapidly as before, she said.

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Green thoughts

May 1, 2008 at 7:10 pm · Filed under solar energy ·Tagged , , , ,

Green thoughts lead to local solar energy dealer
May 1, 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY –

Solar energy is a source that won’t go away anytime soon.
If it does, we won’t be a position to give it a thought.

Relying on the sun to power homes is something that has interested Chris Gary and his wife, Ctaci, who opened a Sun City Solar Energy office in Oklahoma City in February.

Chris Gary said he’s always had his eye on all things green and spend 14 years in the recycling business.
Sun City is based in Tulsa and Gary opened a dealership here.
He said he owes a lot to his wife.
“Ctaci did a lot of the investigation,” he said. “She was the major backbone to get it running. She handles marketing and is our chief financial officer.”

The Garys began looking into solar energy about a year ago.
“We were doing some studies, got excited and basically decided to get into it,” Gary said. “Eventually we will put it on the home we are going to build.”

Solar panels and grid-tie systems make for a lucrative business, he said.
“We install systems anywhere from $3,000 all the way to $100,000,” Gary said. “Every single home and business is different. It really depends on what the homeowners want to do.”

He said the federal government provides a 30 percent tax rebate for residential solar systems up to $2,000. Commercial customers get a 30 percent tax rebate and there on what they can spend.

The Oklahoma City office, which is at at 7540 Berkley Avenue – just to the east of May Avenue and Grand Boulevard – is manned by the Garys.

Oklahoma is the perfect spot for solar energy, he said.
“We have a great solar state,” he said. “We get the same solar gain as Florida, Texas, and southern California. I don’t think people realize that one of the best resources we’ve got is the sun, and it’s basically underutilized.”

As energy costs rise, more and more people are looking into alternatives.
“We hold educational seminars and look at the advantages of solar power and solar hot water,” Gary said. “It’s green a great way for people to learn about solar and the different systems available.”

Sun City has had one seminar per month at its office and Gary is planning to add one each month.
Gary said residential systems have been the most popular, mainly due to costs.
“The main residential systems are solar grid-tie systems that tie into the meter and can make the meter spin backwards,” he said. “That’s the majority of the systems we put in. Most are looking at grid-tie systems to reduce the utility cost. They also offer solar hot water systems, solar pool heating systems, and solar attic vents.”

Gary said print and radio advertising has helped spread the word and boost business.
“The main thing is letting people know we’re here,” he said. “We still get a lot of people hitting our Web site. We’ve been extremely busy.”

Gary said the company has installed hot water systems and power grid system and has more on the books for homes that will be built this summer.

Gary said there are few solar companies in the area and said the 25-year old company has been based out of Tulsa is proof of experience. Hot water systems installed in 1983 are still in use, he said.

“People are starting to realize that we are going to have to do something,” he said. “Things are changing.”
Copyright © 2008 The Journal Record All Rights Reserved

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