Raytheon's solar panels attract attention: System powerful enough to light thousands of homes

News

Related Photos

Tim Jean

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

September 25, 2008

By Judy Wakefield

New solar panels on a rooftop at Raytheon's massive Lowell Street compound generate enough electricity to power 8,000 homes.

And Raytheon is not the only company looking into using solar panels to power its workplace.

Andover's director of planning, Paul Materazzo, said using photovoltaic systems is gaining the attention of both businesses and homeowners. The town's electrical inspector, Paul Kennedy, fields many calls about the photovoltaic system and Materazzo has met with representatives from companies that build the solar panels.

"There is no reason why a business in a flat roof building can't have these solar panels and tap into a (power) grid," Materazzo said.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray dedicated what is known as a photovoltaic system at Raytheon on Tuesday. He and other state officials toured the system of solar panels on the roof of the company's Integrated Air Defense Center Tuesday morning. The system converts the sun's energy into electricity.

Dan Ryan, Integrated Air Defense System's vice president of operations, said the company is not just going green, but saving greenbacks by using solar panels.

"We're double green," he said. "We're running a portion of our operation with these panels and it's very cost-effective."

He said he has started meeting with businesses to encourage using solar power.

"It won't be long before the electric company is knocking on your door to install these panels because it will be cheaper," Materazzo said. "With all the technology going on, it will be easier to install and will be the way to go."

Ryan said Raytheon's solar panels have been operational since May.

"Solar panels are cost-effective as well as (examples of) clean energy," said Ryan, noting that his company takes its green attitude seriously. Nothing is definite, but he said Raytheon, which has six separate buildings on its Andover site, may install more solar panels someday.

Murray was glad to see the panels for himself as the state is pushing for more businesses and homes to go green.

"This overview is something the governor will be pleased to hear about," Murray said. "Energy is very important to the administration.

Gov. Deval Patrick's administration has teamed with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to offer a rebate for the installation of photovoltaic projects at residential, commercial, industrial and public facilities. The rebate initiative is called Commonwealth Solar. Those seeking the rebate must be customers of a Massachusetts investor-owned electric utility.