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This 4 x 5 array of solar panels on an out building at Bob and Sally Adonizio’s property near Clarks Summit can produce 5,000 watts of electricity a year.

Submitted photo

In a more environmentally conscious age, former Pittston Area science teacher Bob Adonizio has taken another step on the road to going green.

Pittston native Bob Adonizio and his wife Sally reside in Clarks Summit where they have gone off the grid, so to speak. December of 2010 brought about the completion of a project that was the culmination of 40 years of interest in an environmentally friendly existence. The project was the installation of a solar array.

The project was a joint effort by Bob Adonizio, who designed the solar array that consists of 20 solar panels, and Mike Haddock, owner of Dupont Developers Inc., who designed the 18’ by 20’ shed that houses the array.

“We were talking being green back in the ‘70s and ‘80s – back before it was popular. One of my big interests was efficiency, energy efficiency. I have a car that runs on vegetable oil. I burn wood. I burn coal. Solar energy just seemed perfect,” Adonizio explained.

The Adonizios’ system has the ability to produce up to 5,000 watts a year, and while December is the month with the lowest ability to produce energy due to the angle of the sun and the length of day, the Adonizios said they were able to produce 100% of their electric needs.

A monitoring system on Adonizio’s computer allows him to track his system’s production of electricity. January and February have shown an increase in the amount of electricity produced, which is significant due to the various incentives offered by the PPL, and the state and federal government.

“Any electricity produced beyond our usage is sold to PPL at the end of the year, “said Adonizio. “There is also another incentive that comes from PPL, a carbon dioxide offset credit. Every 1000 watts produced equals one credit which can be sold at the end of the year. Each credit is worth about $300.”

Some of the incentives include federal tax credits, loans, and rebates.

Pennsylvania also offers loans, tax credits, solar alternative energy credits, and other incentives.

More information can be found online from the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency at their website dsire.org.

“I was really excited to get myself involved,” Haddock said of his first endeavor with solar energy.

Haddock said he intends to continue working with solar energy claiming it to be a great idea and a new addition to his portfolio of services.

Adonizio had looked into utilizing wind power before coming to the decision of solar power. The decision was solidified by the less than appealing production of wind in the area, and because solar panels are quiet, unlike wind turbines.

“With the price of fuel going up and the price of electricity going up, it’s almost a no-brainer,” Adonizio said. “I’m making free electricity to the point where I have an over abundance and I’m selling back to the electric company, and the electric company loves it because they don’t have to produce it. I think it’s going to be big, and the prices are coming down like crazy.”