Edison International plans to launch a roof top photovoltaic solar project. The process requires no fuel or a transmission station to operate. The plans include an initial phase to be up and running by Summer, 2008.
In an exclusive interview with John Bryson, Chairman and CEO of Edison International by CNBC reporter, Dylan Ratigan explained a new direct method of delivering solar energy. The process is called Photovoltaic technology,which means it converts sun energy directly into power within the solar cell. The unique aspect of this project, as explained by John Bryon involves leasing about 2 ½ miles of rooftops in the hotter regions of Southern California.
The roof tops will be fitted with thin-film solar cells and have the ability to literally dump electricity into the surrounding community. The communities have been preselected to include areas where Southern California Edison has a growing customer base. The advantage of the photovoltaic technology is that it does not require a separate transmission station or added fuel costs. The thin-cell solar manufacturers has not been determined at this time.
According to Mr. Bryson, the Photovoltaic Roof Top Project is planning to be up and running in its initial phase by this Summer. The process when it begins can almost immediately begin to produce electricity to relieve the additional burden of air conditioning and the like during the hot season.
The cost of the project is estimated to be 875 million dollars. The advantage to Edison and its customers is the ability to eventually according to large scale production reduce the cost of energy. Mr. Bryson estimates the new technology on a large scale is cost effective because other methods like natural gas, coal and hydro sources require additional expenditures for transmission and fuel.
The State of California is at the forefront of legislation concerning alternative energy sources and has set a mandate that 20 percent of all electricity must be generated by alternative energy sources by 2010. According to Mr. Bryson, Edison International and its subsidiaries are in complete accord with energy conservation.
Edison International , local economies, customers and manufacturers may see big dividends in the future for their investment in energy conservation. The project is the single largest solar energy project of its kind on a world-wide basis.
See video at:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=698312659
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