Solar Power

The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported on March 18, 2007 that renewable energy portfolio standards approved by Pennsylvania legislators in 2005 require the state's electric utilities to buy 846 megawatts of solar-produced electricity annually by 2020. That is nearly the equivalent of the 875-megawatt Unit 1 at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.

About 200 megawatts of solar electricity is envisioned as coming from about 80,000 solar roof-top systems, and the rest from utility-owned solar panels.

Governor Ed Rendell has proposed rebates on solar systems as part of a comprehensive energy program he announced February 1, 2007. The rebates still must be improved by the Legislature.

In this report, Hans Gehman provides an overview of the current state of solar power along with the outlook for solar power.

The complete report is available at the link below.