Roof Top Photovoltaic

The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act provided funds for the USFWS to install photovoltaic panels. Photovoltaics is the direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level. Some materials exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect that causes them to absorb photons of light and release electrons. When these free electrons are captured, an electric current results that can be used as electricity. Image taken from USFWS Pacific Southwest Region Flickr page.