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Boise, Idaho solar firm, US Solar working on thermal storage in Arizona

October 27, 2008 /

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Bear Paw Development Corporation is a private non-profit organization created for the purpose of administering programs to help improve regional economic conditions in Hill, Blaine, Liberty, Chouteau and Phillips Counties and the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian Reservations.

A Boise-based solar energy firm is leading a project in Arizona aimed at reducing the cost of storing solar thermal energy.

Using a $4.35 million grant from the Department of Energy, US Solar will partner with Arizona’s largest electricity utility, Arizona Public Service, to design and build the storage plant. The plant will capture and hold heat energy absorbed by the sun at the Tucson, Ariz.-area Saguaro Solar Power Plant, enabling it to generate power even in the dark.

Full Story: http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2008/10/27/Boise-solar-firm-working-on-thermal-storage-in-Arizona

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US Solar, APS Receive DOE Study Grant

US Solar and its partner, APS http://www.pinnaclewest.com/ , received a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to model and build two new designs for solar thermal storage technologies. The project’s goal is to reduce the cost of storing solar thermal energy, a key factor in solar energy’s ability to generate electricity at night or during periods of reduced sunlight.

The $4.35 million project will be directed by US Solar from Tucson, with modeling occurring at the University of Arizona. The final phase of the project will be a full-scale working energy storage plant integrated with APS’ existing Saguaro Solar Power Plant, located 30 minutes north of Tucson in Red Rock, Ariz.

Full Release: http://www.aps.com/main/news/releases/release_490.html