St. Patrick's Parish in Chesterton has a solar power system installed in the church
The public was invited to see this and other systems in the region as part of the American Solar Energy Society's 14th Annual National Solar Tour.
By JOHN J. WATKINS , The Times 10/4/09
CHESTERTON | A few people gathered under cloudy cold skies Saturday morning to hear about the power of the warm sun for the 14th annual National Solar Tour which had its first showing in Northwest Indiana.
Organizers from the Indiana Renewable Energy Association, formed just a year and a half ago to make legislative changes and bring alternative energy options to the public, said that Saturday's tour was all about education. The tour included stops at St. Patrick's Church in Chesterton as well as residences around Porter and Lake counties.
"Many people aren't aware of what's going on with alternative energy in Northwest Indiana, and there isn't a lot because Indiana is really behind, but someday there will be a lot more," said Kurt Kenning, of Crown Point, co-chair of the event.
Last year's national event had an attendance of 300,000 and Kenning said they were hoping to draw crowds in Porter and Lake counties to demonstrate solar power's potential at locations that currently realize the energy's use.
Tracy Hall, of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, answered questions about photovoltaic solar electrical system like the one the union installed at St. Patrick's Church.
"This back feeds the system here. It works in conjunction with the grid and replaces energy that would otherwise come from the grid," Hall said, standing in front of the electrical box that connects to the outside solar apparatus.
Leigh Ellis, president of Radio One Communications in Valparaiso, said he came to find out more about the options for his business.
"My radio stations currently use in excess of $4,000 in electricity monthly, so I wanted to have a look at alternative ways to bring energy in," Ellis said.
Other stops on the tour included residences that featured alternative energies such as wind power and geothermal power, which Kenning says fit in well with the solar energy model.
"We feel all of these systems are solar based and our aim is to let people know about all of the options available. We're trying to get the people of Indiana, and the Legislature of Indiana, to do more," he says.