Astralux installs solar system in Alamosa
May 21, 2010 --
BOULDER - Astralux Power Systems in Boulder has installed a solar-energy system on an organic farm in Alamosa.
The19.74 kilowatt system on the Crouse Organic Farm was partially funded through the Colorado Government Energy Office's New Energy Economy Development grant program.
The Crouse solar project was one of 17 projects to be funded out of more than 200 applicants. The grant program was created with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The certified organic farm annually produces 500 tons to 600 tons of alfalfa hay. The electricity produced by the solar-energy system will offset an estimated 55 percent of the 64,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity needed to irrigate the farm's crops.
The system will also prevent approximately 24,000 pounds of coal from being burned annually. It is the second grid-tied solar energy system in the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative service area.
"We believe projects like this are at the essence of the Recharge Colorado initiative," said Jesse Malcomb, vice president of business development for Astralux. "This solar-energy system helps increase our state's energy independence while allowing this farm to continue producing an important crop for the local economy."
