FLS & First Light Solar News

from dBusinessNews.com

Project is part of Progress Energy’s SunSense Commercial Solar PV Program

RALEIGH – Customers shopping at the Mayfair Plaza Shopping Center in Cary, N.C., will now be walking underneath one of the state’s largest rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays.  FLS Energy, Inc. built the new 250-kilowatt (kW) solar PV array for the center’s owner, who is selling the entire output to Progress Energy for use by its customers. The shopping center is located at the intersection of Kildaire Farm and Maynard roads in Cary, and the PV array is installed on the rooftop of the Food Lion grocery store.

This solar PV project is made possible by Progress Energy Carolinas’ SunSense commercial solar PV program, designed to encourage the development of renewable energy by offering a premium price for solar power developed on commercial rooftops. In 2009, Progress Energy accepted proposals for a total of more than 2,000 kW under this program.

“We created the SunSense commercial solar PV program because we want to encourage a wide range of businesses to develop renewable energy resources across our communities,” said Lloyd Yates, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Carolinas. “Rooftop solar power will play an important role in a balanced approach to meeting the growing energy demands of our customers.”

The Cary solar PV array, which began operation on Dec. 22, 2009, is expected to generate approximately 325,000 kilowatt-hours this year. This is roughly the equivalent of the annual energy demand of 22 typical homes. The PV array will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 230 tons, which is equivalent to drivers conserving 26,000 gallons of gasoline.

“We are thrilled to be associated with FLS Energy, Inc. and Progress Energy on the development and use of the rooftop solar PV array at Mayfair Plaza Shopping Center and see this as a step forward in the expanded use of renewable energy to meet the energy needs of the people of North Carolina,” said North Carolina developer Frank Floyd Jr., who owns the Mayfair Plaza Shopping Center.

FLS Energy, a solar energy generation company headquartered in North Carolina, began installation of the 1,035 high-efficiency Suniva modules early in November. The company is also working with Progress Energy to build a 550-kW solar PV array in western North Carolina. For more information on the Cary solar PV project, or other FLS Energy projects, please visit www.flsenergy.com.

“Frank Floyd is to be commended,” said Michael Shore, president of FLS Energy.  “He is ushering in the movement to install solar energy systems on the endless miles of flat rooftop spaces found on retail centers throughout the Carolinas.”

About Progress Energy
Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with more than 22,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve approximately 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute’s Edison Award, the industry’s highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder’s Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system.  Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company’s Web site at www.progress-energy.com.

About FLS Energy
FLS Energy (www.flsenergy.com) is a solar energy generation company based North Carolina. FLS Energy engineers, installs and finances solar energy projects. FLS Energy is among the most experienced and fastest growing solar companies in the Southeast, tripling in size within the last year.