I'd like to get excited about a large corporate effort to use solar but not when the only reason it makes sense to the corporation is that the taxpayers and utility customers will fund most of it. Found this at http://newworldsolar.blogspot.com/2010/08/ford-and-dte-energy-to-install-solar.html
"The $5.8 million solar panel project also is part of SolarCurrents, a pilot program announced by DTE Energy last year. The project will be paid for by a $3 million investment by DTE, $2 million by a state grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission and $800,000 from Ford."
(btw, DTE is a Michigan Utility company.)
Someday solar power will be cheap enough, and other power sources expensive enough that solar will take off. I'd think that putting $5 million towards research on more practical solar technology will get us there faster than wasting that $5 million on yet another boondogle.
Ford, Detroit Edison and Xtreme Power plan to build one of Michigan’s largest solar power systems at its assembly plant in Wayne.
According to Ford, the three parties will install a 500-kilowatt solar power system. The system will also tie into a 750-kw energy storage facility that can store 2 million watt hours via batteries.
With the move, Ford is attempting a virtuous cycle where the solar facility will provide power to produce its new Focus and Focus Electric cars and other hybrids. The solar plant is expected to save $160,000 a year. Ford plans to build another solar energy system to power the lighting at the plant.
Xtreme Power will provide on-site energy storage and power management systems.
As part of the solar installation, Ford will install 10 electric vehicle charging stations at the Michigan Assembly.
Ford has powered a few of its plants with alternative energy. Ford’s Dagenham Diesel Centre runs via wind turbines and its Bridgend Engine Plant in Wales has been retrofitted for solar power.
