29 February 2004 - Pinnacles National Monument, California - Carl Brenner, supervisor of resource education, stands in front of the solar array atop the maintenance building at the Pinnacles National Monument. All electricity in the Pinnacles West District is generated onsite by the National Park Service's first hybrid photovoltaic (PV) solar array system. Previous to the installation of the PV system in 1996, two diesel generators provided electricity to the visitor center, maintenance shop,...
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29 February 2004 - Pinnacles National Monument, California - Carl Brenner, supervisor of resource education, stands in front of the solar array atop the maintenance building at the Pinnacles National Monument. All electricity in the Pinnacles West District is generated onsite by the National Park Service's first hybrid photovoltaic (PV) solar array system. Previous to the installation of the PV system in 1996, two diesel generators provided electricity to the visitor center, maintenance shop, employee housing, ranger station, well pumps, restrooms and parking area. By switching to the PV system, according to the Department of Energy, the NPS saved over $30,000 a year in diesel fuel costs and maintenance and eliminated over 1,000 tons (909 metric tons) of carbon dioxide emissions released from the diesel generators each year. Currently there are over 600 PV projects operating in the national park system..(© 2004 Michael A. Mariant)
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