Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
John Daley ReportingIs solar power an idea whose time has come? Absolutely, say an increasing number of developers and homeowners.
The relative cost is coming down, and increasingly governments are pushing it. Many see the technology as on the verge of taking off.
It could truly be called a Phoenix rising from the flames. Last summer the old Stratford Hotel, which was built in 1909, was gutted by a fast-moving blaze.
Now, it's being brought back to life. The renovated building, which was originally home to a Studebaker car dealership, will soon host a huge array of solar panels on the roof-- the largest of its kind in the state.
Ben Logue/ Building Owner: "It was one of the largest fires, from what I understand, in Salt Lake. We're just very happy to be doing this building. It's a challenging building for us."
Last year the Stratford's owner renovated the nearby Ritz Apartments, where he's also installed solar collectors on the roof.
The energy produced goes straight into the Rocky Mountain Power grid, and tenants get credit for that power, thanks to a system called net metering.
For tenants there, especially those that are frugal with their energy use, the solar system can reduce their eletric bill by 70%.
Maralyn Oldroyd/ Tenant, Ritz Apartments: "It's very, very helpful. If you add it up, it saves a lot of money by the end of the year."
Is this the wave of the future?
Ben Logue/ Building Owner: "Absolutely. I believe that it's going to be the wave. I've talked to investment bankers. People are investing in solar panels heavily. This is a technology that's going to happen."
These projects are the latest in a growing number of newly installed solar systems, most visibly at the Salt Palace. The electrian who put in many of those systems says he's busier than ever.
Steve Bishop/ Pioneer Solar & Electric: "Since the Ritz and the Ashby, we've done the Salt Palace and a bunch of little residences. We're waiting for this one to come on line and we're going full blast on this one."
Ben Logue says with California investing 3 billion dollars in solar, the costs for renewables will become increasingly competitive, perhaps turning the solar wave into a tsunami.
Tomorrow alternative power around the state will be on display for the Utah Solar Building Tour 2006.
