Kyocera Solar Inc. (Scottsdale, AZ), a leading supplier of solar-electric generating systems, has provided a 57.6kW photovoltaic solar array to West Marine Products (Santa Cruz, CA). The array, designed and installed by Solar Technologies, an authorized Kyocera dealer, consists of 480 Kyocera 120W solar panels that will provide up to 81,000kWh of electricity annually - enough to power up to 20 average-sized area homes.
West Marine managers expect the system to offset up to 67% of the store's total demand for electricity. Additionally, West Marine was able to benefit from a variety of government incentives for the solar array, including a 50% rebate from the California Public Utilities Commission; an additional 15% "after rebate" California State tax credit; a 10% federal tax credit; and an accelerated five-year depreciation schedule that includes a 30% depreciation allowance in the first year.
