This week one of the nation’s most visible solar power installations was dedicated in Denver. The two-megawatt (MW) system at Denver International Airport (DIA) covers seven and a half acres at the airport’s entrance and will generate over three million kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean electricity annually.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper was on hand for the dedication along with executives from Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL), MMA Renewable Ventures, WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. (WWAT.OB), Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group (TYO: 6753).
MMA Renewable Ventures, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC "MuniMae" (Pink Sheets: MMAB.PK) which financed, owns and operates the system, joined with WorldWater and Denver International Airport to develop an innovative public-private partnership, leveraging tax credits and incentives to finance the landmark solar power system.
Designed and installed by WorldWater, using more than 9,200 Sharp solar panels, the new ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays employ a single-axis tracking system that follows the sun during the day for greater efficiency and energy production.
"We are proud to have such a large and prominently placed solar power system at DIA. This installation is both a symbol and a practical example of the City’s commitment to renewable energy," Mayor Hickenlooper said.
"By securing power through a power purchase agreement rather than major capital investment, DIA will benefit from a renewable energy system that is cost-effective from its very first day of operation, and for years to come," said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures. "Our collaborative effort serves as an example of how successful public-private partnerships can help municipal facilities make the most of tax credits and other incentives available for solar energy."
One of three U.S. airports to be accepted into the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Performance Track Program, DIA’s solar project illustrates how sustainable development can work as an integral operating principle–while the airport maintains a successful, profitable business, breaking records for passenger traffic and earning high customer satisfaction ratings.
Operated by the City and County of Denver, DIA is the fifth busiest international airport in the United States, serving nearly 50 million passengers annually.
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