RICHLAND — Corey Waite produced more power than he burned this summer, and that’s good for his pocketbook.
The Richland man uses solar panels to generate electricity, and when he has more than he needs it’s returned to the Richland power grid through a program he helped initiate.
The Hanford instrumentation technician said he wants to help cut the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and he likes solar energy because it’s clean and renewable. “I wanted to install a solar energy system since the ’80s,” he said Friday.
Waite worked with Richland to create a “net-metering” program that helps track how much power he generates and what gets banked with the city for future use. It also allows consumers to earn cash incentives offered by the state through 2014.
Three Richland households now participate in the program, said Martin Sheeran, the city’s energy specialist.
The program is designed to encourage the use of renewable energy sources. But consumers have to put up the investment to build their power generation system, he said.
Waite spent $16,000 in March 2007 to set up 12 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of his home.
“If the cost of electricity goes up, the investment will pay up real fast,” said Waite, who also earned federal tax credits for the system.
He said the Tri-City area has abundant sunshine and wind for people who want to generate their own power.
Between July 2007 and June 2008, Waite generated 2,742 kilowatt hours.
An average 2,500-square-foot home uses about 27,000 kilowatt hours annually, Sheeran said.
Installing the solar panels took a little work, Waite said. He needed to get a building permit, an inspection by the Washington Department of Labor &Industries, and he had to complete a lot paperwork to get enrolled in the state and city’s programs.
But it was worth it, he said. The system has run so far without problem.
In addition to producing energy, Waite is big on saving power. He replaced his old power-hogging refrigerator and installed a heat pump that uses outside heat for warming the house.
Waite, who is single, said he hates wasting energy. He believes conserving energy is a smarter solution to keep Americans from getting involved in Iraq-like situations.
Richland also has a weatherization program designed to increase the energy efficiency of a home. It provides low-interest loans to residents to buy new energy-efficient windows and heat pumps and to insulate attics and more, Sheeran said.
The city spends about $1 million annually on the program, he said, adding that every small change helps conserve energy.
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