The Spectrum

ST. GEORGE - Bids are out for construction of the second phase of St. George's SunSmart solar facility, which could more than double the output of the 100-kilowatt facility.

Using $190,000 allocated to the city as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the plan is to build up to another 150 kilowatts of capacity at SunSmart, which has been recognized as a unique attempt to help the public get involved with renewable energy. The solar farm, developed as a way to take advantage of the area's average of more than 310 days of sunlight per year, produces only a fraction of the power used in the city, but received much acclaim over the past year from groups pursuing more renewable energy options.

The federal government is offering a credit of 30 percent for solar panels, and many power companies offer rebates for energy transmitted back into the power grid if the photovoltaic panels create extra power, but residents often find the up-front cost of panel installation - which can reach well over $20,000 for a standard home - and the technicalities of maintenance too much to pursue.

The solar farm, a joint-project between the city and Dixie Escalante Power, remedies that problem by offering residents a chance to buy into solar without putting panels on their homes.

"It's a drop in the bucket, but it is a way to expand the amount of renewables in our portfolio," said Rene Fleming, conservation coordinator with the city.

Only 26.5 units have sold so far, but the project also helps St. George reach its goal for a more diversified set of power resources, Fleming said.

St. George is unique among Utah cities in that it only receives 40 percent of its power from coal-fired power plants. Nearly half the city's power comes from natural gas, and the SunSmart program raised the amount of renewable energy to more than 12 percent - former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. had set a goal for Utah municipalities to get 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2025.

"St. George's SunSmart solar program is a brilliant concept," said Doug Hunter, general manager of the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, which awarded the project with its "Smart Energy" award in August. "It provides a very viable means for the city's residents to invest in renewable solar generation at a central plant location, and to enjoy all of the benefits, including tax credits, without the hassle and complications of building and maintaining a system in their own backyards. Everyone benefits."

The facility is located on 17 acres south of Bloomington, where there is room for panels that could create 2 megawatts of power.