I'm sorry, but a few solar panels on that enormous roof look like a drop in the bucket. They even admit the panels only provide 14 percent of their power.

They would be much better off simply installing a good set of skylights. They would save more power with less embodied energy.

Really, Staples didn't have to do anything. SunEdison is striking deals with all the big box retailers to do these free installations. The article should be about Sun Edison, not Staples. Staples just supplies the roof and lets Sun Edison install it.

Griffin:

You have no idea how much electricity it takes to run a distribution center. Did you see where they said it could power 36 homes?

The solar power system has the capacity to produce enough energy to power 14 percent of the distribution center or 36 homes per year.

Trust me, its alot, even if it's not running at peak efficiency.

Good news and all but why can't homeowners get free solar instead of monster corporations? Seems to me that it would be a better service to provide power for 36 single family homes rather than a warehouse for another big box retail giant.

A distribution center runs 24/7. Skylights would only offset a tiny portion, and you would still need lights on the lower levels.

14% is a lot of power. The problem is there's not a battery array. Maybe it makes a good match-up with the air conditioning, which you need most on long sunny days. Kudos for a first try !

There are a lot of yuppie jocks in Massachusetts. Invite them all to come in and lift packages onto trucks for an hour a day. Call it "Blue-Collar Isometrics"" and charge $199.00 a month !

Very good to know that public money is used to provide benefits for companies.

As far as we know this kind of shame is what happens everyday, it's sad to read that.

Instead of giving more money to rich companies like staples, the government should provide ways for citizens to create projects and provide money for the development of small companies initiatives.

It's a shame!

Sun Edison is renting Staples' roof for free. Then they are selling energy that they get for free from the sun to Staples.

It seems like a lot of those commenting aren't bothering to read the actual article. Staples is providing the roof space, and is being permitted to purchase the power produced by the solar arrays during off peak time. The only thing Staples is getting for free is some minor publicity. At least they're putting some amount of effort into environmental responsibility.

i think every building in american at least all the ones in a sunny parts of the country should have them.

If you have a choice to shop at a store with solar panels and one without, Then shop at the one with solar panels, cause money is one thing stores seem to understand

Sad that the title is so misleading. Staples is not getting free power at all. Sun Edison purchased the supplies and provided the manpower to install it with their own money, subsidized by a grant. Sun Edison is now going to sell the electricity generated to Staples. It would be interesting to know how much money Sun Edison invested of its own money.

It doesn't even look like 14% of the roof... why not cover closer to 100% of the roof (obviously expensive... but still)

Kevo, check out http://renu.citizenre.com

It is a similar program for homeowners. It costs nothing to have the panels installed, you just buy the electricity they generate at the same or lower rate that your utility provides.

You do have to put down a $500 security deposit and perhaps bump up your homeowner's insurance to cover any damage to them.

its obvious to some that Staples is merely purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (REC's) from SunEdison. And if i'm not mistaken the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, most likely provided a $1.7 million grant for the project to SunEdison, since they own the solar panels on the roof.

So to address ron's comment, it seems as though the govt did exactly what you wanted them to do... give money to small company initiatives, in this case sunedison.
However, the goal is to save the environment and if big corportations are doing the most damage to the environment who should get the initiative?

And lastly, This should now be the time for staples to actually do some work... now that an expensive govt. funded solar panel system is installed on thier roof, STAPLES should now take the next step and use that power as efficiently as possible.

And coodos to SunEdison for making the difference... keep it coming!

Not sure why the haters, everyone benefits from this.
Staples gets to reduce operating costs in a distribution system that runs 24/7 by being able to buy power at off peak rates which is several times cheaper than buying at peak times. They may not have to even pay for rooftop renovation in the future since the roof is mostly solar panels now.

the consumer benefits because the risk of a brownout from too much power consumption during peak hours is lower and if the power company desires, they might be able to charge a cheaper rate.

The power company now has a system that feeds power into thier system to supply and sell to other places during thier peak times. they paid alot less than a new power plant and avoided all of the environmental junk that comes along with a new power plant.

So does that mean that Sun Edison is getting the grant from the government? Probably they got tax cuts too!
Obvious corporate welfare.

What I see is that Staples got almos 2 million dollars from public money and the REST was financed by SunEdison.

Public money going to private companies is a shame.

you can get this same deal, it's not just multi-corps.
www.citizenre.net

From what I read in the ad the panels cover more than a football field, so what some of you are looking at cannot be the full extent of the panels used.

As for a utility company footing the cost for the project, and then saying it would provide enough power to fill the needs of 36 homes, any logical person would ask why didn't they offer it to 36 families? Then the system could be put to use under real life conditions.

Oh wait a minute, then they couldn't draw their pound of flesh every month from 36 families. Until they start putting systems like this to use serving under real conditions they might as well save their time and effort, because Staples doesn't need the help nor will they have the same energy needs as 36 families.

Make your own accessment after reading all the info on my associate website (www.jointhesolution.com/yorkville) I think people who are interested in getting a solar system on their homes with minimal risk and investment should look at this as an oportunty to register and get in the "solar waiting line". Call me with any questions: 630-553-8697
www.jointhesolution.com/yorkville

On-site use of power is the most efficient, but my guess is that in the current market (heh - get the pun?) Sun Edison might prefer to sell the power in NY - at the very high Peak Rates. Almost no operation and maintenance costs for solar will help Sun Edison's position too.

Another reason Solar power is prized...is that it works best when demand peaks, and that can help reduce use of diesel backup generators.

I was excited to hear about the new on-grid residential PV Rental deal - and signed up my house right away. I'm happy to wait.

I can answer questions about the new PV rental solution for homeowners, and also share news about policy changes and additional developments that will help all renewables have a better chance to reach the market. Many are working to help reduce the cost of Solar Power, and we can all make personal choices to help.

For now conservation and the PV Rental is probably the best money-saving option for many homeowners, especially those who can't use Tax Incentives to buy their own equipment. Watch the video, then see the information links...and a savings calculator. Check it out. Register to Request a system - to lock your rate.

http://www.JointheSolution.com/northwest

More power to ya,

Julie Mikalson
Progressive Strategies
Public Interest Advocate, and
2006 Member, Governor's Renewable Energy Working Group - in Oregon

jules@sunoregon.com

To all you guys reading posts about citizenre--be careful!!! A background check sure makes them look like a pyramid scheme. Do a little research and think hard before you sign up.

The idea seems good, but why is SunEdison able to charge for the solar power? Don't allow others to buy solar panels for you, as they will then 'own' them, and therefore the power they produce. The price will get lower as more people become aware. If the government really wanted to help, they would buy a few solar panels, inverters and other electronics required for everyone in America, tie them to the grid, and before long the grid would be providing all the power most of us need cleanly and FOR FREE. Other than possible panel damage from the weather, solar systems are virtually maintenance free for many years. The utility companies don't want us to see that, the oil and natural gas companies, who provide most of the fuel for electric generation don't want us to see it, and the government wants whatever is "best for the economy" measured only in dollars, externalizing environmental concerns from "the economy", regardless of who actually benefits. These companies that offer to install panels and then sell the electricity to the homeowner are simply thieves who want to take the money from the Electric Company for themselves, providing no benefit to the users of the electricity. That is why solar is so expensive to install, it's price is controlled by money interests that have nothing to do with ecology or other benefits to humanity. That is why a 2000 watt inverter costs $2500 or more, but I can buy a 2000 Watt car stereo amplifier, whose power supply does the same thing, for $500-$1000. Don't buy into the lie.