Spire Corp. (Bedford, MA) announced that Spire Solar Chicago has installed 50kW solar-electric systems on each of the roofs of three major Chicago museums: the Art Institute of Chicago, the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum and the Chicago Historical Society.
These photovoltaic systems consist of over 150kW of capacity, which can deliver about 180MWh annually, enough electricity to power up to 30 homes. Each kilowatt installed reduces pollution annually by one ton of carbon dioxide, 8lbs of nitrogen oxides and 16lbs of sulfur dioxides.
Roger Little, president and CEO of Spire Corp., commented, "We are pleased to bring green power to Chicago, a city that is setting an example for the rest of the nation in its commitment to renewable energy. In addition to the environmental benefits, expanding the nation's renewable energy resources enhances national security. You don't have to import this energy from Iraq or Saudi Arabia. By producing and installing photovoltaic systems in Chicago through a public-private partnership, we are creating a model to demonstrate to other utilities and municipalities solar power's reliability, premium value and cost-effectiveness."
