Madison County Sundance goes carbon neutral


Owner Dave Hollister celebrates the building’s efficiency. After 15 years of serving West-


ern North Carolina with renewable energy systems, Sundance Power Systems is proud to be carbon neu- tral in their office and shop opera- tions. Tis achievement is central to the Company’s core mission, which is to empower society with clean energy systems that support sustainability and reduce damag- ing impacts to the environment. Dave and Sierra Hollister


founded Sundance in 1995 and ran the business out of their barn in Madison County for 13 years while working to establish a viable renewable energy industry in the region until moving to the Salem Hill Road location in 2008. Active solar energy systems now


grace the south-facing roof of the building, providing clean, free en- ergy for the office and shop while serving as an operational showcase to the public. A 9.5 kW solar elec- tric system is expected to gener- ate 12,615 kWh of electricity per year, offsetting nearly 10 tons of Carbon Dioxide emissions. Tis system is interconnected with Progress Energy, and NC Green- Power offers a favorable financial incentive of 15 cents per kWh for clean energy generation. A 4x8 so- lar thermal collector provides hot water for the building, displacing the electrical demand for the exist- ing water heater. On a sunny day, this collector can produce 32,000 btus of clean energy. In addition to solar energy, re-


newable biomass is being used to reduce fossil fuel use. An outdoor wood boiler was installed to pro- vide for the building’s space heat- ing, and will offset approximately 350 gallons of heating oil annual- ly. Wood pallets that are received with shipments provide the prima- ry fuel, allowing what was a waste to become a resource. Trough purchasing blocks of


6 THE TRIBUNE - June 10 - June 16, 2010


p: 645-6300 f: 645-0065


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clean energy through NC Green- Power, an independent, nonprofit organization established to im- prove North Carolina’s environ- ment through voluntary contribu- tions toward renewable energy and the mitigation of greenhouse gas- es, the balance of electricity that is used in the operations is offset. At a recent ribbon-cutting cer-


emony that was held in celebration of this milestone, energy advocate


Ulla Reeves of the Southern Al- liance for Clean Energy spoke about the importance to reducing our use of fossil fuels and was fol- lowed by John Smith, vice presi- dent of Progress Energy Carolinas Western Region, who addressed the utility’s support of bringing solar energy into their generation portfolio.


Tis special to the Tribune.


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