Mass. Water Resource Authority and Borrego Solar Help State Make Strides Toward 250 mW Goal
Boston, MA. September 24, 2007
Source: Borregosolar.com, press release
http://www.borregosolar.com/solar-energy-company/news-and-press/index.php?id=93&year=2007
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) has awarded Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. the design and installation of 100 kilowatts of solar power for the Deer Island Water Treatment plant in Winthrop, Massachusetts. The solar installation, due to be completed by the end of 2007, is projected to generate over 100,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, and is the first of 12 major solar projects slated for completion over the next year in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The MWRA issued a statement saying, “We are very enthusiastic about this project as it is the first such contract of this type that we have awarded in the history of the MWRA.”
Borrego Solar Systems will use Massachusetts-manufactured components for the project, including 525 Evergreen 190-watt modules and a Solectria PVI 95 kW inverter. By utilizing solar power, the Deer Island plant will reduce carbon dioxide (C02) emissions by over 172,000 pounds, which is equivalent to removing 29 passenger cars from the road, or planting more than 65 acres of trees.
Brendan Neagle, Vice President of Business Development and part of the team that spearheaded Borrego Solar’s recent move into the northeast, said, “Borrego Solar expanded to New England specifically to build large-scale projects for the public sector. There is no better place to start than with a government agency as well known and well respected as the MWRA.”
In preparation for the project, Borrego Solar Systems became certified in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by the Division of Capital Asset Management. The project was won not through a traditional “low bid” fashion, but rather through a unique process that determined the winner as the bidder with the lowest ratio of total system cost to kilowatt-hour production.
The Deer Island roof configuration is challenging and presents many shading obstacles. Borrego Solar’s design and engineering team developed a unique solution that will optimize solar energy collection yet adhere to the strict performance demands imposed by both the MWRA and Borrego Solar’s design methodology standards. “We are committed to accelerating the adoption of renewable energy in New England – the most important part of that is driving down the cost, even in challenging situations,” Neagle added.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is a solid proponent of solar power, supporting growth from the state’s current 2 megawatts of solar energy to 250 megawatts by 2017. Borrego Solar plans to be a leader in helping achieve the goal, which will require an additional average of 25 megawatts of installed solar per year. Concurrent with its Massachusetts launch, Borrego Solar has recently completed several installations, including a solar photovoltaic system for WXRV Boston “The River” radio station.
About Borrego Solar:
Established in 1980, Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading solar developers, designers and installers of commercial, government and residential grid-connected solar electric systems. Borrego Solar’s photovoltaic systems are efficient, reliable and cost-effective. With more than two decades of experience and over 500 installations, Borrego Solar offers a complete line of design and installation services throughout California and New England. For more information, visit www.borregosolar.com