Major Off-Grid Solar Powered Residential Housing Development Set To Proceed [Arizona]

source: solarbuzz 2003.8.7

PerfectPower Inc., a Phoenix based renewable energy installer is set to proceed with a major off-grid solar development in Arizona called GreenWood.

The company has secured an exclusive solar electric supply contract with GreenWood Partners, which could ultimately be valued at $10 million, to provide PV systems for over 500 planned homes.

The grand-opening of the development will take place on August 30, 2003. The model home inclusive of Sharp 165 watt modules and the first completed Outback PowerPanel, will be displayed. The PV system has been operating during project development since late last year.

The five-acre lots are at the 4200 feet elevation in the high Chaparral near Kingman, Arizona. Planned Highway 93 improvements will make travel to Kingman less than three hours from Phoenix and less than 2 hours form Las Vegas.

Some 545 lots have been identified in the development, of which 487 are now available. It is anticipated that the development will be built out over the next three years.

There will be five different home configuration models available. PV systems will be included in total home prices which will begin in the $100,000 range. Minimum PV system sizes are 1.65 kilowatts, but the average is expected to be in the 2.5 kilowatt range.

The project is ultimately expected to yield between 800 kilowatts and 1.3 Megawatts of solar photovoltaic installations. The PV module supplier or suppliers have yet to be selected for the project.

The off-grid solar electric development will not draw on any government subsidy funds and is privately financed. It is anticipated that solar water pumping systems will also be part of the project and some local interest has been expressed in wind powered systems.

John Balfour, President of PerfectPower said, "This demonstrates that large off-grid solar residential projects can be put together without any need for government funding programs". He added, "We expect other similar developments to take place in the sun-belt States over the next few years."

For more information, contact John R. Balfour, john@perfectpower.net, (602) 971-2588, or Doc Pethtel, (702) 528-6649, or see www.PerfectPower.Net or www.66greenwood.com.