Michigan utility Detroit Edison is to build a $3 million solar power array at Monroe County Community College, in Temperance, near the Ohio-Michigan Border.

The college is the first educational institution to take part in the utility’s $100 million pilot program, called SolarCurrents, which involves development of customer-located solar photovoltaic projects.

The 500-kilowatt facility will be installed on the east side of the college campus, and is expected to be operational in the spring, once design and construction are completed.

Detroit Edison has agreed a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Community College to sell power from the solar panels.

“We’re pleased that Monroe County Community College will be among the first organizations to participate in SolarCurrents, which is one of the largest distributed solar programs in the country,” said Trevor Lauer, DTE Energy vice president, Marketing & Renewables.

“We expect the program to encourage the development of new green energy projects by providing financial incentives to non-residential customers interested in solar energy systems.”

A subsidiary of DTE Energy, Detroit Edison is aiming to install 15 megawatts of solar power generating facilities throughout Southeast Michigan over the next five years through its SolarCurrents program.

Under the program, new solar facilities are installed, operated, maintained and owned by the utility, which provides customers with an annual payment or credit on their energy bill based on the system size, as well as a one-time upfront payment to compensate inconvenience during construction.

Training

The system at Monroe County Community College will provide a demonstration of renewable energy technology to give students the opportunity to observe working photovoltaic systems.

The College said the project should help with its development of solar training and study programs.

DTE Energy awarded a $45,000 grant and solar equipment to the college back in May to help establish an academic program that would include solar power technology, as well as wind power and hybrid electric technologies.

“It’s all about jobs – green jobs,” said MCCC President Dr. David E. Nixon. “This multi-million dollar investment by DTE Energy empowers MCCC to come up with training opportunities related to solar power applications.”

“All those solar panels on campus will provide hands on learning opportunities and inspire new curriculum design in solar studies.”

The utility is planning to invest nearly $2 billion in the coming years to develop more than 1,200MW of renewable energy capacity to meet Michigan’s clean energy targets.

As well as completing solar installations, Detroit Edison also intends to acquire or build wind farms and other green energy facilities, as well as buy half the targeted power from third party vendors.