Energy products and services provider Constellation today announced the construction of a 976-kWdc solar generation project that will help the city of Palmdale, Calif., meet state mandates forrenewable power generation and greenhouse gas reduction. Scheduled for completion in the summer of 2014, the solar generation project is expected to eliminate 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data for the region.
constellationThe solar project requires no upfront capital from the city. Solar firm PsomasFMG worked with the city to develop the project. Constellation is financing the project’s development and will own and operate the system.
The system is expected to generate 1,800 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. Palmdale will purchase the electricity generated by the system at a fixed-rate through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation. The city estimates that it will save more than $40,000 in electricity costs during the first year of the system’s operation.
“We are very proud of what this project is going to accomplish,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “It not only will save the taxpayer money, but it will help the city meet its Greenhouse Gas reduction requirements and goals, and allow us to keep our Renewable Energy Credits for future use. We’re also proud that we took the extra steps to make these structures more aesthetically appealing by adding color and architectural features so that they are visually compatible with their surroundings.”
Located on three sites, Palmdale’s Civic Center, DryTown Water Park and Marie Kerr Park, the solar power arrays are comprised of approximately 3,200 photovoltaic panels located on shade structures which were designed to blend with the look and feel of the city’s surroundings.
“We are very pleased that the city of Palmdale’s leadership has considered both the financial and environmental health of the city by installing solar power at three locations,” said Paul Mikos, president, PsomasFMG. “With no capital outlay, the city will reduce its ever increasing utility bill and its carbon footprint at the same time.”
“Constellation is pleased to work with the PsomasFMG team in helping the city of Palmdale meet its environmental goals and manage its energy costs,” said Brendon Quinlivan, director, solar sales for Constellation. “Structuring solar projects as power purchase agreements requires no upfront capital from our customers, and provides them with greater price certainty through long-term, fixed power costs.”
Source: solarbuildermag
