Seven new solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems installed at City of
Tucson facilities are coming online. The new 2.3 megawatt (MW) DC
rooftop and carport systems – developed by SPG Solar and
interconnected by Tucson Electric Power (TEP) – span downtown Tucson,
including the Tucson Convention Center (TCC), providing combined $6.2
million net revenues over 25 years.
This project shows the City of Tucson’s commitment to sustainability
by providing the community with up to 60 green jobs during time of
construction, two student internships, and clean renewable energy. These
latest projects build on Tucson’s first phase of solar, which was 1 MW
of solar – including both rooftop and single axis tracking systems -
developed by SPG Solar in 2009.
“This largest City solar project was made possible with low-interest
Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, Tucson Electric Power’s renewable energy
credits and made easy by SPG Solar’s experience and range of solar
services,” said Doug Crockett, City of Tucson Energy Manager.
“We’ve basically initiated a municipal-owned solar utility
which will generate net revenues to fund future energy efficiency and
deferred maintenance projects on city facilities.”
SPG Solar capitalized on its design and engineering experience,
providing the City with optimized rooftop and carport solar power
systems at the TCC, Miller-Golf Links Library, Patrick K. Hardesty
Multi-Service Center, Randolph Center, Tucson Police Crime Lab, and two
locations at the Thomas O. Price Service Center. The power generated at
each site will offset, on average, 55 percent of the electricity used at
each location.
“The City of Tucson has become a committed, long-term solar
partner,” said SPG Solar CEO Chris Robine. “They presented us
with a challenge to maximize the amount of solar electricity the City
could generate; so we capitalized on our years of experience to design,
engineer, build and maintain a set of solar power system that will
deliver the best return on investment.”
TEP will provide financial incentives to the City of Tucson through the
company’s customer-funded large commercial solar program, which will
reduce installation costs. The systems’ output will help TEP work
toward the renewable energy goals established by the Arizona Corporation
Commission (ACC). The latest 2.3 MW system will produce nearly 4
million kilowatt hours the first year, which is equivalent to powering
350 average American homes annually.
“We’re very pleased to be working with the City of Tucson and SPG
Solar on these systems, which will produce clean, green energy for city
facilities using one of Arizona’s greatest natural resources –
sunshine,” said Carmine Tilghman, TEP’s Director of Renewable
Resources. “We expect to dramatically expand our solar generating
capacity to more than 200 MW by the end of 2014 through a combination of
company-owned resources, privately developed projects and distributed
generating systems like the ones installed by the City of Tucson.”
