Solar Panels installed in Huntsville, Alabama!

           Solar panel projects are being installed in Huntsville's South Memorial Parkway, Alabama by Southern Solar Systems, a Huntsville-based company specialized in installing photovoltaic solar panels. Not only are solar panels being installed in South Memorial Parkway, but it is claimed to also be installed on the lands that borders the northbound lanes between Charlotte Drive and Bryd Spring Road. According to Chris Shearburn, vice president of Southern Solar Systems, the solar panels should be operational by the following week.
            Southern Solar Systems also reports that they are installing solar panels for the landowner, who will be selling back its power generation back to Tennessee Valley Authority as part of its program, Green Power Providers program. This program helps offer consumers, businesses, and industries across the Tennessee Valley the option to build renewable generation with a maximum project size of less than 50 kilowatts in size.
             Shearburn had noted that the solar panels will be producing about 70,000 kilowatt hours of power a year, which helps the landowner save a revenue of about $1,500 per month. The solar panels are positioned southward and helps them pull in the most sunlight. Shearburn also comments that "in the last year or year and a half, the prices have dropped for solar panels, so the cost of building these (solar panels) is going down."

One of the solar panels on South Memorial Parkway, between Byrd Spring Road and Charlotte Drive

Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee has Solar Installations!

      The Knoxville Zoological Gardens, located in Tennessee, has been the first zoo to receive solar installations, which 196 solar panels have been placed across the roof of the Stokely African Elephant Preserve Habitat. This installation has been ordered by Knoxville-based energy contractor ARiES Energy (Alternative Renewable Innovative Economic Solutions for Energy). Specifically, this installation has been made due to a partnership the nonprofit zoo has with Wampler's Farm Sausage and Family Brands International, which they are financing $170,000-$180,000 to construct the solar panels.  In return of this construction, the zoo leased the roof of the barn at its African elephant natural habitat from the Lenoir City-based Wampler's Company. Not only that but they are also supposed to sell Wampler's and Family Brands products such as its barbecues, bacon, and hot dogs at their concession stands.
       The solar installation, alone, could produce 55,595 kilowatt hours of power a year, which actually saves the zoo $825,000 of utilities on water, sewer and gas charges, etc. It also helps the zoo by reducing its carbon footprint, providing environment conservation, and it puts the Knoxville Zoo in a leadership position over other zoos in Tennessee for its green solar installation.

This is Knoxville Zoological Gardens before the solar panels installation

This is Knoxville Zoological Gardens, in progress of the solar panels installation, still to be completed