E.ON Climate & Renewables (E.ON) Solar broke ground today on its newest 14-MWac/18-MWdc solar photovoltaic project at the U.S. Army’s Ft. Huachuca in Arizona. The project will serve about 25 percent of Fort Huachuca’s annual electricity requirement.
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) contracted with E.ON for the construction management of the project. TEP has been the Fort’s energy service provider for more than 70 years and will own and operate the facility, providing clean renewable energy to the Fort while continuing its long-standing commitment of providing safe, affordable, and reliable energy.
E.ON and TEP have previously worked together under power purchase agreements for two other solar facilities. “E.ON is honored to be selected by TEP to provide the construction services for the Fort Huachuca project.” said Dr. Christophe Jurczak, CEO of E.ON Global Solar. “We put our customers first, and are committed to delivering the world class products and services that they demand.”
“This will be the largest solar array in the department of defense on a military installation,” according to the Honorable Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment.
“It has been a positive and productive experience working with the U.S. Army and its Energy Initiatives Task Force (EITF) as they integrate solar energy into their important mission at Ft. Huachuca,” said Steve Trenholm, Chairman E.ON North America. “We are proud to be a part of it,” continued Trenholm.
In a statement, Congressman Ron Barber of Arizona applauded the Fort Huachuca project. “I have solar panels installed on the roof of my home, so I know firsthand the benefits of solar. When an organization as strong as the United States Army makes an investment like this, and brings together an innovative partnership between federal agencies and private industry, it is a powerful message to the rest of the services – and the nation – that solar is a solid investment and an energy source for the future.”
“We’re very proud to provide Fort Huachuca with a cost-effective solar power resource that will contribute to the base’s long-term energy security,” said David Hutchens, President and Chief Operating Officer of TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy Corporation (NYSE: UNS). “This new, productive partnership will benefit our customers while helping both the base and TEP make significant progress toward our respective renewable energy goals.”
“TEP continues to expand its company-owned solar resources and show its commitment to moving towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy portfolio,” said Carmine Tilghman, TEP Senior Director of Wholesale, Fuels and Renewable Resources. “Our partnership with Fort Huachuca offers us an opportunity to continue with our own solar development, while assisting the Army and Fort Huachuca in meeting their own renewable energy goals. E.ON completes the partnership as the strongest and most economic provider of solar construction management services available for this type of project.”
— Solar Builder magazine
[source: http://solarbuildermag.com/news/e-breaks-ground-largest-solar-array-military-installation/]
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.