We say it every year: When it comes to solar projects, we are all winners. We already announced the winners of our 2016 Project of the Year vote, but we at Solar Builder liked a bunch of the other submissions too. Here is the third in our series of Editor’s Choice winners. These are projects that didn’t garner the most votes from readers but we felt were still pretty darn cool too.
Previous Editor’s Choice posts
Calipatria Solar Power Plant
Due to the flat terrain, low regional labor costs, high irradiance levels of the sun and support from local jurisdictions, this is an exceptional area for solar production. The Calipatria solar power plant reaps the advantages of the area and contributes to local economies through employment, tax revenues and local business services support. But, even cooler, San Diego Gas and Electric recognized Solar Frontier Americas for exceeding their supplier diversity goals while working on Calipatria. The California Public Utility Commission has set a goal for the state’s investor-owned utilities to procure at least 21.5 percent of their expenses, including electric and fuel costs, with Diverse Business Enterprises (DBEs). DBEs include women-, minority-, service-disabled veteran- and LGBT-owned businesses. San Diego Gas and Electric encourages power project developers to subcontract with DBEs during development and construction as well.
Location: Calipatria, Calif.
Size: 21.99 MW DC
Completed: February 2016
Developer: Solar Frontier Americas Development LLC
Contractor: DEPCOM Power
Modules: Solar Frontier
Inverters: Bonfiglioli
Mounting: Clavijo Single-Axis Tracker
Pahrump Solar Project
This project required collaboration by Valley Electric Association, Bombard Renewable Energy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Mojave Desert tortoises discovered at the project site. Key to this was the project’s racking system from Solar FlexRack. Because of the versatility of the racking system, all the special onsite requirements to protect the tortoises’ habitat were able to be met. The project is a milestone example of balancing the construction of a renewable energy project and protecting the indigenous wildlife, particularly in this case — the desert tortoise. It demonstrates how development, construction and wildlife conservation can work together to achieve mutual environmental goals.
Location: Pahrump, Nev.
Size: 17.5 MW
Completed: July 2016
Developer: Valley Electric Association
Contractor: Bombard Renewable Energy
Modules: SolarWorld
Inverters: Yaskawa-Solectria Solar
Mounting: Solar FlexRack
— Solar Builder magazine
[source: http://solarbuildermag.com/featured/2016-project-year-editors-choice-beyond-project-impact/]
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