Dave Kutz beams when he talks about the colossal solar array MISCO Products Corp. is installing on its roof.

MISCO, a Bern Township cleaning products and janitorial supply company, is putting in a 300 kilowatt solar energy system, consisting of 1,300 photovoltaic panels, that will be the largest in Berks County and the seventh largest in the state when completed. Kutz, vice president for operations, said MISCO is adding solar energy to help cut its energy costs, especially with Met-Ed electric rate caps coming off at the end of this year.

Met-Ed officials have estimated rates could rise as much as 20 percent to 30 percent when rate caps are lifted. Meanwhile, the state and federal governments are offering grants, tax credits and other incentives to encourage companies to add renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal.

MISCO makes environmentally friendly cleaning products and switching to renewable energy sources is another way for it to help the environment. "It was 50-50 for us," Kutz said. "We wanted to add solar, but then again, you can't have something that is renewable be at a price point that makes it prohibitive. There has to be a balance."

When MISCO looked at renewable energy systems it settled on two options: wind and solar. Solar won out because of the 100,000 square feet of roof over MISCO's plant and its location, 1048 Stinson Drive.

"Being located right next to the Reading Regional Airport, we didn't think a wind turbine would be an easy sell for zoning purposes," Kutz joked.

Kutz said MISCO has a long-standing business relationship with Reading Electric, which is in Muhlenberg Township.

Reading Electric, in partnership with Borrego Solar Systems Inc. of New York, has quietly cornered 25 percent of the solar energy market in Pennsylvania, according to data collected by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The state administers the Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Grant program and Reading Electric and Borrego Solar projects have been awarded $2.2 million of the total $10.6 million in grants awarded to date.

"We've signed up 45 customers in the greater Reading area and have obtained about 25 percent of the commercial grants being offered to small businesses by the state Sunshine Solar Program," said Jim Kurtz, general manager of Reading Electric's sister company, Reading Electric Renewables.

Kurtz said Borrego's 30 years of experience with solar energy and Reading Electric's 53 years' doing business locally have helped them sell solar in traditionally conservative Berks County.

That and the fact that Borrego puts up about 65 percent of the cost of a new solar system, covered by state Sunshine Solar Grants and federal tax credits.

"We're essentially taking a $1 million project and cutting the cost to the customer to about $350,000," said Alex Sarly, Borrego's project director on the MISCO installation.

John Repetz of the state Department of Environmental Protection said the PA Sunshine Solar program is expected to produce about 40 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year and of that Reading Electric and Borrego projects are expected to contribute 8.4 million kilowatt hours when completed, Repetz said.