Solar House: January 2008 Archives

People don't normally associate solar power with large electric utility companies, but we'd be sadly remiss if we didn't point out that St Louis-based AmerenUE made the largest single cash donation to the 2007 solar house project. The firm's gift of $22,600 was made without much fanfare, which to our way of thinking means they support the integration of renewable energy sources within their market. As a matter of fact some folks at AmerenUE approached then-team leader Chris Wright (more on him later) at an ASME meeting, expressed interest in knowing more about the project and invited the team to make a full presentation to the firm. No big photo ops for the check, no big announcement, just unqualified support for the project.

It is particularly significant that the team earmarked the gift (with Ameren's blessing) towards the purchase of the solar panels shown above during the D.C. construction phase (DC in D.C., get it?) and the entire power generation system. Kinda puts the students and AmerenUE in the same business, providing power for all of us, doesn't it? After all, as solar systems proliferate, more and more of them will be grid-tied, and AmerenUE knows it will need to stay ahead of the crowd.