The Daily Journal Of Commerce
Capital gets solar power boost

The Oregon-Columbia and Pacific-Cascade chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 48 and 280 donated labor to assemble solar panels on the Oregon State Capitol Building in Salem Monday, making Oregon the first state in the nation to place a solar electric system on its capitol building. NECA electrical contracting firm Dryer & Sons Electrical Co. of Portland supervised the installation of the solar panels on the building's roof. All the project labor was donated to show support for the solar industry, said Brent Wisnewski, project manager for Dryer & Sons. "It's an honor for us to contribute to the effort to bring renewable sources of energy to the State Capitol," said Wisnewski

"With proper equipment, installation and maintenance, solar energy can be a safe, cost-effective alternative for all Oregonians." Wisnewski said Dryer & Sons has had much experience with solar panel installations and is currently working on a large solar component on the McGuire Reservoir in McMinnville. The company has a fully-functioning solar generating station at its location in Southeast Portland that has been used to light up job sites and power the firm's computers when the electricity failed. Volunteer installation by members of the IBEW Locals 48 in Portland and 280 in Tangent, along with contributions of time and financial support from the Oregon Solar Energy Industry Association, NECA and Portland General Electric enabled this project to be completed for half the cost of a typical system. The photovoltaic panels will deliver 5.8 kilowatts into the power grid for every hour they operate, explained Wisnewski. That's enough energy to fuel the lights that illuminate the golden pioneer statue above the Capitol building.