COOK COUNTY LOCAL ENERGY PROJECT

Solar Direct Working Group

To facilitate solar energy development in Cook County, CCLEP has formed a Solar Direct Working Group made up of engaged citizens meeting about once a month. This working group is open to the public and new participants are always welcome.
Contact Don Grant; dcgrant@boreal.org; 218 370 9998

Topics

Solar PV

Solar Thermal

Solar PV
PV is a carbon-neutral means of electrical generation that can be either off-grid or grid-tied. In grid-tied applications the PV system is attached to the National Electrical Grid. When the PV system is generating more power than needed, electricity is sold to the grid. When the PV system is generating less power then needed (like at night!!!), the grid supplies the balance. Off-grid PV applications are independent of the grid and usually include energy storage (e.g. batteries) and back-up energy generation (e.g. a gasoline-fired generator) for non-sunny periods (e.g. nighttime and November/December).

Strategies

• Encourage installation of PV systems on homes, businesses and public buildings
• Provide information about available financial incentives
• Work with the Grand Marais Recreation Area to install solar PV systems at the campground
• Build a plug-in hybrid recharge station

Solar Thermal
Solar thermal uses dark surfaces located outside of a building to convert sunlight energy into heat energy. Water or an antifreeze/water mixture is used to collect the heat and transport it into the building. The heat can be used to produce hot water, heat the residence and heat pools or spas.

Strategies:

• Encourage installation of PV systems on homes, businesses and public buildings
• Provide information about available financial incentives
• Work with Grand Marais Recreation Area to install solar hot water systems at the pool and the campground.

Local Resources:
North Shore Sustainable Energy - Solar site assessment - Don Grant 218 370 9998
Outback Solar Electric - solar PV systems - Brian Bennett, 218 370 0836
Como Oil and Propane - solar thermal systems - Steve Ortman, 218 387 1165
County Residents with PV systems - Don Grant, dcgrant@boreal.org, 218 370 9998

Regional Resources
Minnesota Renewable Energy Society
Midwest Renewable Energy Society
Conservation Technologies
Innovative Power Systems
Wise Energy Equipment Solutions

Financial Resources
RETScreen - Clean Energy Project Analysis Software
PV Watts - a performance calculator for Grid-tied PV systems
Solar Advisor Model - for evaluating financing of solar projects
Financial incentives