Contact: Jan TenBruggencate
808-639-9900
jan@islandstrategy.com
New Senter Energy Systems Photovoltaic Array Cuts Fuel Distributor's Electric Bills 99 Percent
LIHU'E (June 15, 2009) In an odd marriage of the old and the new, Senter Petroleum distributes gasoline and diesel fuel, but powers its own building and cardlocks with the sun. Six months ago, its electric bill at its Lihu'e Industrial Park building ran between $2,200 and $2,600 each month.
Now the bill is $24 a month-the minimum utility payment for a business client. That works out to a savings of more than $26,000 a year at current electricity rates.
What has changed is the installation of 210 Sanyo photovoltaic panels on the building roof. On sunny days, the panels produce more power than the building needs. On a recent overcast day, they were still producing more than half the Senter Petroleum electrical demand, and the "K-Card" fueling facility out front was filling commercial vehicles using sun power.
The cost of the system will be paid off by savings in an estimated three to five years, and then Senter's electrical power will be essentially free, virtually forever.
The 40-kilowatt system was installed by Senter Petroleum's sister company, Senter Energy Systems, which designs, engineers, builds and finances solar photovoltaic systems for Kaua'i customers. The Senter system is connected to the Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative grid through a net metering arrangement, which allows excess solar electricity to be "stored" for use later.
President Brian Barbata said Senter, perhaps better known for its petroleum distribution business, has been building solar systems through a sister company for about 10 years. The one atop Senter Petroleum's Lihu'e building is Senter Energy's largest to date. Senter Energy Systems is now in discussions with other Lihu'e businesses, as well as one non-profit, about installing photovoltaic arrays on their properties.
Barbata said the company's expansion of its photovoltaics arm is part of a long-term broadening of focus for Senter from fossil fuel distribution to an array of renewable energy services in what ever form they take. Barbata hopes to have a plug-in electric vehicle for company use in the near future, run for free on electricity produced by the sun. "If that's where it's going, that's where we want to be for Kauai", commented Barbata.
Senter Energy Systems is operated by industrial engineer Peter Richards. The company started as Inter Island Environmental Services and operates statewide as Inter Island Construction.
Richards said photovoltaics make particular sense for businesses, since federal and state tax credits and accelerated depreciation can dramatically reduce the effective cost of a system. Under current law, the state allows a 35 percent tax credit, the IRS a 30 percent credit, and accelerated depreciation is permitted under federal tax laws.
A properly designed system can be paid off quickly with tax credits and reduced electric bills.
"In some cases, a three to five-year payback is very realistic," Richards said, "But many customers don't care if it takes 10, as long as it's paid for by what they would have paid in electric bills."
Senter offers financing options and can arrange leasing of systems, bridge loans until tax credits take effect, bank loans and other alternatives to suit a particular business' needs. The timing of payments can be tailored so a business has little or no cash flow impact.
For information about Senter Petroleum, see the website at: senterkauai.com
For more information on photovoltaic systems, reach Senter Energy Systems at:
| Ron Morin | 808-245-1911 | ron@senterkauai.com |
| Roger Cable | 808-245-1911 | rbcable@senterkauai.com |
| Peter Richards | 808-349-0009 | peter@senterkauai.com |