Environmental Leader

Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick has awarded a $20-million joint contract to Nexamp and Florence Electric to install solar systems at 12 public wastewater treatment plants, which are expected to generate 4.5 million kilowatt hours of energy, reports the Boston Herald.

Touted as the state’s largest contract for solar power installations, the projects, which could create 100 jobs and save about $650,000 a year in energy costs, are expected to be completed between June 2010 and July 2011, reports the Boston Herald.

The deal, consisting of ground-based solar arrays at each of the 12 sites, is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, reports Mass High Tech. Massachusetts received about $185 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for infrastructure projects at wastewater and drinking water facilities that mandates that states spend 20 percent of that funding to make those facilities more environmentally friendly, according to the article.

In addition, the stimulus bill requires companies to use American-made components, according to Mass High Tech.

Mass. is one of several states that are using solar rebates to boost the number of solar installation projects across the nation.