Publication Date: 03/28/2012

At Wheaton Park District Community Center in Wheaton, Illinois

SAN RAMON, California, March 28, 2012 – Phoenix Solar Inc. (www.phoenixsolar.us) today announced it has completed the installation of a 44 kilowatt rooftop solar power system at the Wheaton Park District Community Center in the city of Wheaton, a suburb west of Chicago, Illinois.

Phoenix Solar installed nearly 200 solar modules across 75,000 square feet of rooftop of the Community Center, which houses a gymnasium, fitness center, 20 classrooms and an adjacent outdoor pool. The solar system generates 54,400-kilowatt hours (kWh) of solar energy per year and helps offset the Center’s utility costs. The independent Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, which provides grants in all 102 counties in the state to improve energy efficiency, awarded a grant to the Wheaton Park District to help offset the costs of the solar system.

To illustrate the benefits of the rooftop solar system to members of the local community, Phoenix Solar installed a video monitor in the building lobby to display real-time performance graphs that show how much electricity is being generated from the sun. A nearby display provided by Phoenix Solar explains how solar energy works.

In commenting on the solar installation, Rob Sperl, Director of Planning for the Wheaton Park District, said, “As we were looking at the possibility of using renewable energy, we saw that the cost of solar was going down and figured the cost of conventional power will probably go up over time. But more than that, we are a public agency, and we thought we should be a leader in the field and help solar become a more viable technology that could be broadly adopted throughout Illinois.”

In commenting on why the Wheaton Park District chose Phoenix Solar, Mr. Sperl said, “We chose Phoenix Solar because they demonstrated to us the best return on investment, and clearly showed how they could design the solar system to fit within the confines of our roof.” Mr. Sperl added, “We didn’t have a specific preference for which solar module to use in our system. We just wanted Phoenix Solar to meet all our requirements, and they did.”

Pete Beucke, Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix Solar Inc., said, “The Wheaton Park District has taken a progressive and forward-looking view regarding our country’s energy future, and we are excited to help them achieve their objectives.”

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About Phoenix Solar
Founded in 1999, Phoenix Solar is a global leader in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic power plants, having installed or sold more than one gigawatt of capacity. The company’s technology-neutral approach allows us to objectively provide the best solar solutions for our customers. Phoenix Solar Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Phoenix Solar AG, headquartered in Sulzemoos, Germany (www.phoenixsolar-group.com). For more information about Phoenix Solar Inc., please visit www.phoenixsolar.us.

About the Wheaton Park District
Incorporated in 1921, The Wheaton Park District boasts 52 parks and more than 800 acres. Today, the park district continues to demonstrate their mission, which is “to enrich the quality of community life through a diversity of healthy leisure pursuits and heightened appreciation for the natural world.

Phoenix Solar media contact:
Bruce Entin
Tel: 925-659-3715
Email: [email protected]

Wheaton Park District media contact:
Margie Wilhelmi
630-510-4984

Email: [email protected]