Solar energy is nothing new but the demand for it has one contractor wishing for more help.
Workers are constructing a frame that will hold solar panels at the Schuylkill Campus of Penn State near Schuylkill Haven. A $15,000 grant is paying for it.
After the frame is complete comes the job of installing the solar panels. They collect light from the sun and turn it into electricity.
When all of the solar panels are connected together they will generate enough power to light 30 100 watt light bulbs.
"It's going to feed one of our apartments. It's not going to handle the full electrical load but a partial load," said Mike Russell of Penn State Schuylkill.
During the summer months when the student apartment is empty the extra electricity will be sold to PPL.
If there is any doubt that the demand for solar power is increasing, just ask the contractor in charge of the Penn State project. He said there are only a handful of companies doing the work.
"We are very busy. I wish I had two other crews right now," said solar energy contractor Charley Reichner. "We can't keep up with it. There is maybe 10 people in the state that has been doing it for a while, but there is a lot more demand than 10 people can handle."
Officials said the cost for solar panels to power a home, after tax breaks, is about $15,000. That price could drop as the technology gets better.
"There are some roofing companies that are doing some research on incorporating them into the roofing material. So when you put the roof down you're putting the solar cells down with it," said Tom Cleary of Penn State Schuylkill Campus.
Some said as the cost drops more people will be inclined to power their homes, businesses and even schools with the sun.
Workers are constructing a frame that will hold solar panels at the Schuylkill Campus of Penn State near Schuylkill Haven. A $15,000 grant is paying for it.
After the frame is complete comes the job of installing the solar panels. They collect light from the sun and turn it into electricity.
When all of the solar panels are connected together they will generate enough power to light 30 100 watt light bulbs.
"It's going to feed one of our apartments. It's not going to handle the full electrical load but a partial load," said Mike Russell of Penn State Schuylkill.
During the summer months when the student apartment is empty the extra electricity will be sold to PPL.
If there is any doubt that the demand for solar power is increasing, just ask the contractor in charge of the Penn State project. He said there are only a handful of companies doing the work.
"We are very busy. I wish I had two other crews right now," said solar energy contractor Charley Reichner. "We can't keep up with it. There is maybe 10 people in the state that has been doing it for a while, but there is a lot more demand than 10 people can handle."
Officials said the cost for solar panels to power a home, after tax breaks, is about $15,000. That price could drop as the technology gets better.
"There are some roofing companies that are doing some research on incorporating them into the roofing material. So when you put the roof down you're putting the solar cells down with it," said Tom Cleary of Penn State Schuylkill Campus.
Some said as the cost drops more people will be inclined to power their homes, businesses and even schools with the sun.
