Estes Trucking recently completed the installation of a 688kW rooftop solar array at its warehouse terminal in West Middlesex, Mercer County.

This approximately $1.4 million project ($2.04 per watt) was built with the assistance of a $400,000 PA Energy Development Authority grant awarded to Estes in 2014.

A final inspection for grant purposes was completed in January, along with the utility interconnection inspection.

Final commissioning also occurred in January, and the system was turned on. At 2,200 panels with 688kW capacity, this is the largest roof-mounted solar array in Western Pennsylvania.

Estes anticipates this project will meet about 56 percent of the facility’s electric consumption while saving about $67,000 per year in avoided electric purchase and reducing CO2 emissions about 1.2 million pounds annually.

The utility bill savings combined with the PEDA grant, a 30 percent federal tax credit, and sale of solar renewable energy credits are expected to bring the payback for the project to about 8.5 years for Estes.

A publicity event for early Spring 2017 is in initial planning stages among Estes, its installation contractor-- Dynamic Energy of Wayne, PA, and DEP.

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(Reprinted from theFeb. 3 DEP News.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

[Posted: Feb. 3, 2017]

2/6/2017