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Air Force Embraces Solar Power with 15MW Systems

Construction on North America’s largest solar PV system – a 15 megawatt system with 70,000 panels – has begun at Nellis Air Force Base. Spearheading the project is a team that includes the United States Air Force, Nevada Power Company, MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, and PowerLight Corp. The Nellis solar energy system will generate in excess of 25 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and supply more than 25% of the power used at the base. Occupying 140 acres of land leased from the Air Force at the western edge of the base, the ground-mounted solar system will employ an advanced sun tracking system, designed and deployed by PowerLight. 70,000 solar panels and the patented PowerLight PowerTracker® will capture up to 30% more energy than an equivalent ground-mounted fixed-tilt system. Rated at approximately 15 megawatts (MW), the array will generate the power of a rooftop solar system with a rating of approximately 18 MW. MMA Renewable Ventures will finance, own and operate the landmark system and sell the power to Nellis under the terms of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). “The Nellis solar power plant is the start of the way ahead for future DoD and community partnership,” said Col. Michael […]

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Exelon Headquarters Certified to LEED Platinum

Exelon’s (NYSE: EXC) headquarters have received the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest designation for green building: platinum LEED Commercial Interiors (CI) certification. This is is the largest office space in the world to be LEED-CI certified at the platinum level. In 2005, Exelon established a voluntary goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8 percent from 2001 levels by the end of 2008 – this goal will be partially realized through the redesign of its company headquarters. [Exelon is the first utility in the U.S. to receive an early permit for a nuclear plant in Illinois]. Exelon consolidated its downtown Chicago locations and one suburban location to increase productivity and reduce long-term occupancy costs. To do so, Exelon chose to renovate existing space to LEED standards rather than building new. The project involved the design and construction of more than 220,000 square feet of office space on ten floors in an existing landmark building in downtown Chicago. In its new green headquarters, Exelon has reduced electricity consumption by 43 percent and water consumption by 30 percent as compared to its previous space. From workstations, offices and conference rooms, all employees have outside views so they can benefit from natural light. […]

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Feds Approve Transmission Policy for Wind

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) applauded the unanimous approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of a new California Independent System Operator (ISO) transmission policy. The policy, which the U.S. wind energy industry has worked to develop and support, aims to address the “chicken or egg” problem that has bedeviled wind power development where no wind farms are built unless there is transmission, and no transmission is built unless there are wind farms already in place. Today’s ruling in effect states that, in windy areas where there is no transmission, transmission should be financed and built first as long as it is clear that there is a large energy resource to be tapped and that there is some financial commitment on the part of generating companies to eventually develop projects in the area. “This decision is great news,” said AWEA Policy Director Rob Gramlich. “Several hundred gigawatts of cost-effective, inexhaustible, 100% clean wind power are now a step closer to being tapped for the benefit of the nation’s economy, environment, and energy security.” “All five commissioners demonstrated in their remarks that they grasp the challenges facing renewable energy developers and that they want to help remove roadblocks,” added […]

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