York Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Renewable Energy

Solar power supply deals move toward construction

Central Electric Power Cooperative, the power supplier for South Carolina’s electric cooperatives, has completed agreements with four solar developers to build five renewable energy projects in South Carolina. The solar-generated power to serve Central’s wholesale power needs — eventually as much as 308 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity — will be built near Georgetown, Summerville, Hemingway and outside of Aiken. A remaining 117 MW share of the projects has been contracted by Santee Cooper, bringing the total developments to 425 MW.

Solar PanelsThe power purchase agreements (PPAs) with independent solar developers were signed at fixed prices for up to 20 years.

Last year, the Central and Santee Cooper issued a joint request for proposals to developers for up to 500 MW. They evaluated 58 bids representing 3,625 MW total. Santee Cooper proposed developing the renewable power supply as a joint resource, but Central determined it would be more cost-effective to pursue its own contracts, even if the same developers contracted with Santee Cooper. The final capacity size totaled 425 MW.

“This is one common approach used by utilities to add renewable energy to their portfolio,” said Robert C. Hochstetler, Central’s CEO. “Central gets long-term flexibility as well as lower pricing of renewable resources for the benefit of our member-cooperatives.”

The solar developers building the projects are Birdseye Renewables Energy, Ecoplexus, Johnson Development Associates and Silicon Ranch. The developers build and own their respective projects and the utilities buy the energy output.

Solar power generation should be online sometime in 2023.

Below are Central’s power purchase agreements for its load share ratio:

Silicon Ranch (SR)
Project Name(s): Lambert 1 & 2
Two 72.5 MW AC solar projects located near Georgetown

Johnson Development Associates (JDA)
Project Name: JDA
54.4 MW AC solar project located near Summerville

Birdseye Renewables Energy (BRE)
Project Name(s): Chester White
54.4 MW AC solar project located in Aiken County

Ecoplexus, Inc.
Project Name(s): Hemmingway
54.4 MW AC solar project located in Hemingway

MW = megawatt, AC = alternating current

Let us be your source on solar

In the last few months, we have received many questions about solar power, such as:

• Will it reduce my power bill?
• Is solar a less-expensive alternative?
• What questions should I ask solar salespeople?

YEC began researching renewable-energy alternatives about 15 years ago, and we’ve been offering Green Power to our members since 2004. Since then, solar energy alternatives have become available and have generated a lot of consumer interest. And, issues surrounding solar energy alternatives have been addressed by the S.C. General Assembly. There are now two publications with which anyone considering solar should become familiar. The first is SC Act 236, the law governing renewable energy in S.C. The second is the Office of Regulatory Staff’s Cost Shifting Analysis on what renewable energy will cost S.C. citizens by 2021.

Information is key to any large investment. I would encourage all of our members interested in renewable energy to research the pros and cons and do what best fits each individual.

In this column, I am going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve heard. If I don’t cover it here, don’t hesitate to call. We will do our best to get you straight answers.

Solar FAQs answered

Before even considering investing in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, improve your home’s energy efficiency. This will reduce the size of any system you might install and improve your investment. Otherwise, the cost benefits may be disappointing.

Smaller solar PV systems range in size from about 2,000 watts—or 2 kilowatts (kW)—up to around 13kW. They cost $4,250 to $5,000 per kW. A 2kW system might save a consumer $31 a month. This is a lot of money for a small reduction in your monthly power bill.

If you aren’t sure it’s worth it, visit MySCSolar.com, a website developed by YEC and other S.C. co-ops to help our members. You can plug in your numbers—the generating capacity of a solar PV system, its up-front costs, etc.—to calculate your return on investment. Of course, please contact us anytime if you need assistance.

Questions to ask about solar

We recommend YEC members ask the following questions related to rooftop solar PV systems:

  • How long does the warranty last? When will you have to assume repair or replacement costs?
  • How old is my roof? You need a good roof on which to install a solar PV system. If you have to replace your roof, what will that cost? And, if there’s a storm, will you have to replace the roof and the solar panels?
  • Will solar panels increase my insurance costs? Sometimes, features you might think add value—say, an in-ground pool—can be liabilities. Check with your insurance company.
  • Will renewable-energy tax credits benefit me? Check with your accountant. But one thing’s certain: You will not get a check from the government for installing solar. Tax credits don’t work that way.

We are here to serve you! Allow us to be your trusted resource on solar.

Paul Basha

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Related Topics:
Another bright opportunity
Community Solar 
Renewable Energy
MySCSolar.com

Another bright opportunity

YEC Community SolarRenewable energy is an important part of our future! Over the past several years, YEC has received a lot of inquiries from its members in reference to community solar options. The interest level was so great that your cooperative made plans to establish a community solar project for you. Last fall, YEC constructed its first Community Solar farm, Lesslie Solar Farm, in Rock Hill located off Springdale Road. And, the subscriptions to the farm were sold out within the first two weeks. Since then, the benefits of Community Solar farms have become more appealing, and YEC’s members continue to want to have the opportunity to participate; therefore, YEC will construct two more Community Solar farms this year. Plans are now underway, and we look forward to sharing the details with you in future issues of South Carolina Living magazine and here on our website.

YEC's Marc Howie with CN2 reporter, Mia Macy
Marc Howie, YEC’s Vice President of Community Development, shares the member benefits of YEC’s Lesslie Community Solar Farm during an interview with CN2 News reporter, Mia Macy. Photo: Porter Gable

 

If you determine that installing your own PV solar system isn’t right for you, we encourage you to check into our Community Solar farms where you will be able to participate with renewable energy without the cost and commitment of installing panels on your home. Donna Dessaint, YEC’s solar liaison, is available to answer any questions you may have regarding community solar. Please feel free to give Donna a call at (803) 818-5213.
Related Topics:
Let us be your source on solar
Community Solar 
Renewable Energy
MySCSolar.com

Members can purchase locally generated, renewable energy

UPDATE: Construction is now complete and energy production began the first of September, 2016. All 50 kW of the community solar farm has been sold. YEC is in the process of looking for a site to build a second farm.

YEC Community SolarA new program from York Electric Cooperative will soon allow members to invest in solar energy without actually installing panels on their home.

Under the cooperative’s Community Solar program, available in June, YEC members can sign up to purchase power that will be generated at a 50-kilowatt (kW) solar farm in Rock Hill located near the Galleria Mall.

YEC members can sign up now to purchase some of the solar farm’s renewable energy output. Pricing is:

  • Up-front charge of $100 per kW unit
  • Monthly charge of $12 per kW unit
  • Monthly credit of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
  • One-time administrative fee of $30

Donna Dessaint, YEC member services representative and the co-op’s point person for its renewable-energy offerings, says the Community Solar program offers an affordable, low-risk way to benefit from solar energy without the hassles often involved in roof-top solar installations.

“Participating members avoid designing, permitting, installing, maintaining and insuring their own photovoltaic solar array,” Dessaint notes.

Members benefit, she adds, based on how much solar power they buy.

“Their Community Solar power purchases would offset part of their monthly bill. They would get a credit on their bill, based on the portion of ownership they have in the solar farm.”

York Electric is offering the program in response to member interest, Dessaint says. While the cooperative also assists members who want roof-top solar, consumer research conducted by South Carolina’s electric co-ops shows much stronger interest in Community Solar, she says.

“Many people who expressed interest in solar power recognize the benefits of the Community Solar approach,” she says. “Research in South Carolina has shown that the cost per kilowatt for Community Solar is roughly half that of roof-top solar. You get a better return on your investment by investing in Community Solar.”

Community Solar programs are being introduced by York Electric and other cooperatives around South Carolina. The state’s 20, consumer-owned, independent co-ops have collaborated through Central Electric Power Cooperative, their jointly owned power supply aggregator, to design solar programs for S.C. co-op members.

Donna Dessaint, a YEC member services representative, in front of the solar array at the co-op's Fort Mill office. Dessaint is the point person for the co-op's new solar programs. Photo: Joyce Baker
Donna Dessaint, a YEC member services representative, in front of the solar array at the co-op’s Fort Mill office. For details about the Community Solar program, contact Donna at (803) 818-5213. Photo: Joyce Baker

 

SIGN THEM UP!

These Fort Mill residents are eager for Community Solar

YEC member, Hitesh Patel
Hitesh Patel

Hitesh Patel and Cliff Toole live in different parts of YEC’s service area but face a similar challenge: They both wanted to add solar panels to their homes but just couldn’t make it work.

In Fort Mill’s Sutton Place neighborhood, Patel ran into neighborhood restrictions. “For my house, I was told I cannot install anything on the roof,” he says.

A YEC member for about eight years, Patel has been in touch with the co-op since YEC started gauging member interest in solar options in 2014. He’s pleased that YEC is offering Community Solar.

“What I liked about it is it’s a solar farm. It’s maintained. You don’t have to worry about the maintenance, or calling people–if something’s broken, they’ll take care of it. And you get reimbursed [for the solar power you purchase] on your bill.”

YEC member, Cliff Toole
Cliff Toole

Over in Springfield area of Fort Mill, Cliff Toole had looked into roof-top solar, too. “My house location is not well-situated to install panels,” he says.

Trees would block the sunlight, Toole says, and the pitch of his roof wasn’t right. Plus, he notes, “The house wasn’t built at the correct angle to the sun.”

A co-op member since 2009, Toole says the Community Solar panel helps him achieve a goal to cut back on his personal contribution to the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. “For me personally, it’s always about reducing my [carbon dioxide] footprint,” he says.

Patel is likewise pleased to have an easy way to invest in solar power. “It’s clean energy,” he says. “You can help with the cause for that.”

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[PDF] Community Solar Application Terms

114.47 KB 816 downloads
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[PDF] YEC Community Solar FAQ

250 KB 1531 downloads

 

Community Solar FAQ

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What is community solar?

Solar communities are groups of solar panels kept at one location. They offer members an opportunity to invest in solar energy without the cost, hassle, and installation of solar equipment on their home. The return on their investment is shown as a credit on their electric bill.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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How does community solar work?

Members subscribe to the output from YEC’s community solar site for a 20-year period, choosing the number of kilowatt (kW) units for their subscription. One kW unit will produce approximately 150 kWh per month. You can add more kW units at any time, as long as they are available.

When energy production begins, you will receive a portion of the production from the solar community each month, based on the number of kW unit subscriptions on your account.

Members pay a portion of the cost per kW unit upfront, then a monthly subscription fee is charged as a line item on the electric bill. The correlating output of the subscribed kW units is credited back to the member at 10¢ per kWh. Members pay a one-time $30 administrative fee for participating in the program.

  • Subscriptions Upfront Charge: $100 per kW
  • Monthly Unit Charge: $12 per kW subscription
  • Monthly Credit: 10¢ per kWh
  • One-time $30 administrative fee
Category: Community Solar FAQ
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Who can participate?

Any YEC member in good standing may participate in the Community Solar program on a first come, first served basis. This excludes residential net metering and Advance Pay accounts.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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Am I buying a portion of the community solar farm, or just the energy from it?

Members are subscribing to the energy produced by the solar farm in relation to the number of kW units to which they subscribe.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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Are there participation term limits?

The overall program term is 20 years. The minimum term participation is 2 years, and requires a 30-day notice of cancellation.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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Is there a limit to the number of kW units to which I can subscribe?

A member must subscribe to at least 1 kW unit, but cannot subscribe to more than 5 kW units.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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What is the average production per year?

YEC’s community solar array produces approximately 50 kW per month, which is roughly equivalent to the energy used by 7 average homes in YEC’s service area. However, it is important to note that solar production will vary from month to month based on weather and time of year.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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How does the cost of community solar compare to the installation of solar panels on my house?

While the cost of installing solar panels on a home varies greatly from house to house, YEC has attempted to keep the Community Solar pricing in line with the average cost of putting solar panels on a home.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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If my solar subscription produces more energy than I use, does YEC buy it back?

Yes! If your subscription produces more energy than your home consumes in one month, you will see a credit on your account, regardless of the amount.

Categories: Community Solar FAQ, Solar Power FAQ
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How do solar tax credits work?

YEC will use tax credits associated with the Community Solar program which are figured into the program’s pricing.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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What if a storm damages the community solar equipment?

If the community solar arrays are damaged during a storm, members will receive a proportionate share of the energy produced by any non-damaged panels while repairs are made.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
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What happens if I move?

If a Community Solar member moves from one home served by YEC to another home served by YEC, the solar energy subscription moves with the member.

If a member moves out of YEC’s service area, the subscription will terminate; the upfront charge paid upon beginning the program is not refundable.

Category: Community Solar FAQ
Related Topics:
Community Solar Farm 
Renewable Energy 
MySCSolar.com

 

Co-ops develop MySCSolar.com to help consumers

Paul Basha, YEC President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul Basha, President and Chief Executive Officer

York Electric and South Carolina’s 19 other electric co-ops are shining a light on solar energy with a new informational website for consumers, MySCSolar.com. The site includes information about solar basics, finding an experienced, certified contractor to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, a Do the Math page that gives tips to size a PV system for a home, information about financing and tax incentives and a calculator to determine estimated costs and savings. Other sections include a Final Checklist & Questions and provide information about Energy Storage and interconnect requirements and applications.

MySCSolarLearn more online

You can also access MySCSolar.com through a link in YEC’s Renewable Energy section, which also features information about earlier solar initiatives and our Green Power program. As you’ll see, these are not insignificant efforts. Just as electric co-ops like YEC have built our reputation as a trusted source for reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity for almost 75 years, for the last 11 years, we’ve been offering our members a way to support energy fueled from renewable resources with Green Power.

Nationwide, electric co-ops are renewable energy leaders. Co-op capacity includes power generated from wind, solar, small hydro, biomass, landfill gas and geothermal installations. By supporting a wide range of fuels for electric power, YEC and cooperatives nationwide have always strived to reduce costs and keep rates low while ensuring reliable service.

A renewed commitment

Last year, YEC rolled out several programs—all completely voluntary, I might note—to offer interested members a way to support renewable energy. We’ve always stressed our commitment that members will not be subsidizing our renewable energy programs. Our position has always been that both solar and wind must represent viable alternatives in order for York Electric to embrace them.

We’ve always hoped that advances in technology would help this come to pass. Now that technological improvements, lower prices and a new state law have paved the way to making residential solar energy systems more accessible to South Carolina homeowners, we’re continuing our commitment to providing the most affordable, reliable, safe, and environmentally sound electricity.

Visit MySCSolar.com soon! Let us know if you have any questions. And, if some of our earlier renewable energy initiatives interest you, contact Member Services Representative Donna Dessaint at (803) 818-5213. Donna is our point person for YEC’s renewable energy programs.

We’ll have even more good news to share with you in the coming months about projects now in the planning stages.

Shine on!

 

Paul Basha

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Related Links:

MySCsolar.com
Renewable Energy
Green Power

The power of American independence

Paul Basha, YEC President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul Basha, President and Chief Executive Officer

Celebrating Fourth of July, declaring our energy independence…

Fireworks and flags. Cookouts and cold drinks. We hope your Fourth of July is a festive day spent celebrating our nation’s independence with family and friends. As the fireworks fade into memory, it is worth reflecting on how the uniquely American spirit of independence remains part of our collective DNA 239 years after our nation was formed.

American flag and YEC lineman.
All of us at YEC express our deepest gratitude to all veterans past, present and future. May we never forget freedom isn’t free! Photo: Joyce Baker

Our sense of independence has served us well. For example, more than 70 years ago, an independent streak inspired groups of farmers across America’s countryside to band together and improve the quality of life. With President Franklin Roosevelt’s promise of federal aid in the form of loans and engineering expertise, rural Americans brought electricity to their own communities and home. They pulled together and worked cooperatively—a shining example of American determination and ingenuity.

For the past 40-plus years, nearly every president since Richard Nixon, during the 1973 Arab oil embargo, has talked about the goal of U.S. energy independence—reducing our reliance on imported oil and other forms of foreign energy. Today, while we still have a ways to go, we are closer to that goal than ever before. We export more gas and import less foreign fuel than in recent memory. American ingenuity in the form of new technology and innovation is opening up more options and spurring greater efficiency across all forms of energy.

Collective benefits

Co-op members can play a part in moving us toward national energy independence by taking action in simple, practical ways—insulating and caulking around windows, doors and electrical outlets; washing clothes in cold water instead of hot; replacing air filters; installing a programmable thermostat; and using more energy-efficient appliances and home heating and cooling systems. Efficiency efforts can cut costs for individual households—and the collective benefit to our country is even greater.

If we all work together to achieve increased energy efficiency and reduce our overall energy consumption, we can make even more progress on our road toward energy independence. At YEC, we want to be a resource for you in this effort.

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[PDF] 101 Easy Ways To Save Energy And Money

1.20 MB 451 downloads

 

Red, white, blue—and green

In addition, YEC, like other co-ops across the country, has actively promoted renewable energy resources like wind, solar, hydropower and biomass. Today, nearly 95 percent of the nation’s 900-plus electric co-ops provide electricity produced by renewable sources, all playing a key role in powering rural America while fostering our nation’s energy independence. To support the effort, sign-up for our Green Power program and learn more about renewables at www.yorkelectric.net/renewable-energy.

By redoubling our energy-efficiency efforts—and mixing some green in with the good old red, white and blue—you’ll be showing your independent streak. Now, that’s the American spirit!

 

Paul Basha

Paul Basha
President and Chief Executive Officer

Related Topics:
Green Power
Renewable Energy
MySCSolar