The Ft. Worth Zoo recently installed a large solar array to power several of its buildings. Their new solar power system is expected to save about $300,000 in energy costs over its thirty year life span. The savings will likely be applied to both local and international conservation endeavors.  The zoo collaborates on animal projects in 34 countries and cooperates with the International Elephant Foundation and the Turtle Survival Alliance.

$140,000 was donated by Green Mountain Energy Sun Club to purchase the new system. They have donated funds for about 30 solar installations in the state of Texas, which could have a breakthrough in solar development, due to falling solar technology prices. The huge southern state receives an enormous amount of sunlight – enough that its solar capacity alone could power the entire state. (Wind power has been their main source of renewable energy so far, however.)

“To put it into perspective, the sunshine that falls on Texas each month has more energy than all of the oil that has ever been pumped out of this state. If you think oil made Texas great, just wait till you see what they do with solar,” said Rhone Resch, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. (Source: PegasusNews)

The Ft. Worth Zoo was founded with less than ten animals in 1909, but today they have about 350 species living there. Undoubtedly the addition of solar power at the facility visited by many people, will also raise some clean energy awareness, as well as educating the public about animals.

Texas Governor Rick Perry is one of the ‘drill, baby, drill crowd,’ but clean energy is a much better future for Texas, America and the entire world because oil contributes too much to climate change, and pollution of the air, water and land. Oil drilling is also hazardous for workers, who are injured or killed too often.

Image Credit: Malcolm

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