Solar power isn’t just in the future anymore. It’s here for one Rockdale resident.
Dusty Albreight, who lives on FM 908 south has “gone solar.” His power now comes from what he has been told is the first ground-based solar panel array of its kind in Milam County.
The county as a whole may be following along.
County Judge Steve Young has reported a couple of solar firms have expressed interest in creating “solar farms” near Rockdale.
SUN POWER—
Albreight’s setup, installed by Bartlett Electric, is composed of three layers of 4-by-6-foot solar panels.
The panel are made up of many photovoltaic cells. That’s a big word which simply means the conversion of sunlight into energy.
Simply put, a solar panel works by allowing photons, or particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity. Solar panels actually comprise many, smaller units called photovoltaic cells. (Photovoltaic simply means they convert sunlight into electricity.)
Albreight is an advocate for solar energy noting that his initial investment will pay off over time.
“I’ll be making payments over 20 years,” he said. “But I will begin saving on power bills immediately.”
There’s another huge factor. “I’m connected to the power grid,” Albreight said. “There will be months when I will generate electricity over and above my power needs and I will receive a check.”
MAINTENANCE—The solar array will require very little maintenance.
Its flat black surface has already received the “attention” of several birds in a way that everyone who has ever just finished washing their car can understand.
“I will need to wash it off,” he said. “The cleaner it is the more solar energy it will absorb.”
There’s a reason for the flat black finish. Black absorbs light while white reflects.
“It will store energy so there will be times when it’s cloudy and I will be drawing from that stored electricity,” he said.
Texas, is of course, rich in that free source of energy, sunshine.
Albreight volunteered to provide information to anyone interested in solar power. He can be reached at 979-540-8741.
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