SOLAR CELLS HANDLING THE LOAD FOR COST-CONSCIOUS BUSINESS POWER COSTS AS MUCH AS HALF WITH 'FREE' ENERGY SOURCE.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Everybody loves the sunshine, but Santa Clarita aerospace manufacturer Paul Akian has been enjoying the rays more than usual for the past week.

Akian has installed more than 40,000 square feet of solar panels on the roof of his air-filter manufacturing plant in Valencia. He expects to nearly halve his electricity costs immediately, and to recover all of his overhead investment in just five years.

``We believe we will save between $6,000 and $7,000 per month,'' said Akian, as he strolled on the expansive roof of his warehouse, now half- covered in slanted, shiny panels. ``And it requires no maintenance except for washing.''

Akian's business, Western Filter Corp., is benefiting from the state's Self Generation Incentive Program, which offers significant tax credits for companies that invest in solar systems. With those breaks and similar federal credits, it was the easiest $875,000 that Akian ever spent.

And if everything goes to plan, Akian will double the size of his solar power system in the years to come.

``I look at this as a business issue as well as an environmental issue,'' he said. ``I don't believe we can depend upon electric companies to provide us with the power we need on a long-term basis. Electricity costs are going to rise tremendously. ... We hope that other users of energy will do the same thing that we're doing and put less burden on utility companies in the state.''

Akian's sprawling solar panels will generate more than 200 kilowatts per hour, nearly half of his company's peak usage of 500. And when the plant is closed on weekends, the energy produced by his panels will be fed into Southern California Edison's power grid and recorded as credits for his company to use at a later date.

So, not only is Akian saving himself money, but he is also taking pressure off - and in some cases, giving electricity back to - the strained power grid that gave out in 2000 during the California energy crisis.

``The purpose of the self-generation incentive is a peak reduction program; anything that reduces peak load helps the state out,'' said Howard Green, SGIP manager for Southern California Edison.

According to Green, Akian is one of a growing number of business owners realizing the efficiency of solar systems.

``I am absolutely booked solid - in the first year (2000), we had 50 applications. The next year we had 80. Last year I had 115. And now I'm almost to 100 and it's only April ... California's program is the leading program in the United States.''

Akian's solar system is the largest ever installed by California Green Designs, a private contractor that specializes in industrial and residential systems.

Green Designs executives tout Akian's project as an example of how businesses should address rising energy costs, as well as environmental concerns.

``Solar energy is safe, quiet, maintenance free and clean. And after five years, it's free,'' said Sevan Varteressian, president of the Encino-based company. He added that the shade the panels provide on flat warehouse roofs can cut down on interior summer heat by as much as 90 percent.

What deters many companies and residences from pursuing solar energy is the cost, experts say, but California's credits are making it not only feasible, but highly advisable.

``It doesn't make any sense at all for companies not to be doing it,'' said Donald Aitken, an eminent solar energy expert and senior consulting scientist for energy department of the Union of Concerned Scientists. ``The people who aren't doing it simply aren't paying attention.

``(The use of solar energy) is increasing as companies begin to look at it. There's still a lot of ignorance out there by people who say, come on, this stuff can't be real. Financially, with the aid of the state, it's very cost-effective technology. As they take a look at that, they begin to opt for it.''

Nicholas Grudin, [phone]

nicholas.grudin(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Paul Akian, president of Western Filter Corp. in Valencia, says he's satisfied with the solar panel system installed on the roof of his factory, a system that will pay for itself in five years.

(2) Solar cells on the roof of Western Filter will provide 50 percent of the firm's power needs.

David Crane/Staff Photographer