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On the eve of the selection of Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential nominee, an 18.2-KW solar power demonstration system has been installed on the site of the party's national convention in Denver. A trio of US companies worked on the system, with AeonSolar supervising design and installation, Evergreen Solar providing its String Ribbon panels, and PV Powered supplying the grid-tied inverter for the project.
The solar array, located in the Pepsi Center parking lot, will produce energy that will be put back into the local power grid to help offset some of the power used throughout the convention and be part of what organizers say will be the most environmentally sustainable Democratic convention ever.
Executive from the three companies used the news of the installation to promote solar energy in general as well as the passage of the investment tax credit extension during the current session of the U.S. Congress, a measure supported by Sen. Obama, who is a strong advocate of solar and other renewables. "We're thrilled to be involved with the Democratic Party on its biggest stage," said Terry Bailey, Evergreen's senior vice president of marketing and sales. "There is tremendous legislative support in both parties and both chambers for renewable energy, and we're hopeful that federal legislators see the benefits in extending the investment tax credit for renewable energy beyond 2008." "There is great importance in being part of the Democratic convention to showcase the practical use of solar energy to our nation's leaders and also for the Democratic Party to set an example for clean and responsible energy use," added Rob Ashmore, president of AeonSolar. "It is an honor for the team at PV Powered to be working side-by-side with leading U.S. manufacturers and installation partners from the solar power industry," noted Gregg Patterson, CEO of PV Powered. "Highlighting solar power at the Democratic National Convention will hopefully put the critically important federal tax incentive back into the public debate." -- Tom Cheyney
