TCP Presenter Repowers Historic Tennessee Town

07/09/09

Karen Cochran, TCP presenter and District Manager for Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, hosted a “Flip the Switch to Repower Franklin” ceremony in Franklin, Tennessee on Thursday, July 9.

In total, 54 solar panels were installed in a historic building, taking up 847 square-feet of space on the rooftop.  The panels produce approximately 14.7 kW peak power per day, generating 17,500kWh per year, and offsetting energy costs by at least $3,850 annually.

Cochran, who was trained by Al Gore in January, 2007, is a commercial property owner in the Historic District on Main Street. As a member of the Alternative Fuel & Energy Committee, she is dedicated in her efforts towards helping the city become one of the top 25 sustainable communities in the nation.  

 “The action plan calls for a total citywide reduction in energy usage by 20 percent and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent by 2014,” said Cochran.  “I hope my colleagues will see that this is good for both the environment and our pocketbooks.”  Not only do the panels create energy, she stated, but they save energy at the same time. 

In addition to Cochran, Franklin Mayor John Schroer and sustainability captain Ken Moore also spoke, before assisting Karen with flipping the power switch to engage the alternative energy source. “Karen is doing more than installing solar panels. She also retrofitted her lighting, installed programmable thermostats, and provided other energy efficient features,” stated Moore. Franklin’s biggest challenge, he said, was the existing historic buildings and their inefficient energy use.

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