TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- First Solar Inc. [that is a real profit making investor owned company] said Wednesday it has begun building [that's right - not a lab project, not a demo, a real producing facility] the first rooftop solar system in a plan by Southern California Edison to [eventually] add 250 megawatts of solar power capacity to large commercial rooftops in Southern California.
Southern California Edison's overall [10 year] plan calls for the 250 megawatts to be installed over the next five years in what would be the largest rooftop solar project proposed by a U.S. utility.
First Solar began work on the initial 2 megawatt project July 14. The panels will be connected to California's power grid in September.
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It is true that this is done because SoCal gets a tax credit; however, the FSLR thin film technology could get less expensive with economies of scale. I don't know if there is a good estimate of the total flat roof space available in the Southwest but I'd guess it would be enough for over a few gigawatts of capacity that could be installed without any loss of ag land. |