Construction on the largest solar PV installation at a U.S. army site will begin this month at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
“This will be the largest solar array in the department of defense on a military installation,” said Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment.
The installation is expected to provide about 25 percent of the electricity required at Fort Huachuca each year. Construction will start on April 25, with the solar panels expected to go live in late 2014.
Credit: U.S. Army
“Energy is an installation priority,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Ashley, Fort Huachuca commanding general.
“The project goes beyond the megawatts produced. It reflects our continued commitment to southern Arizona and energy security,” he said. “The project will provide reliable access to electricity for daily operations and missions moving forward.”
The solar project will be owned, funded, operated and maintained by Tucson Electric Power and E.ON will work on the design, engineering, procurement and construction.
“The project establishes a new path for an innovative partnering opportunity among the U.S. Army, other federal agencies, private industry and the utility provider,” added deputy assistant secretary of the Army for energy and sustainability Richard Kidd.
This solar installation will add to the U.S. Army’s goal of using 1 GW of renewable energy by the year 2025.
