White Rose, Ariz. Schools Install Over 9 MW of Solar

White Rose, an independent wholesale food distributor, has begun operation of a 4.88 MW roof-mounted photovoltaic system at its warehouse in Carteret, N.J.

The system is operated by KDC Solar Nugen WR, a joint venture of KDC Solar and Nugen Capital Management, which describe the array as the second-largest roof-mounted PV system in the state. New Jersey has been a hotbed for commercial solar installations because of its online trading platform for solar renewable energy certificates, and an aggressive renewable portfolio standard calling for 22.5 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewables by 2021.

The White Rose system will generate about 6.2 million hours of solar electricity per year and is designed to supply more than 60 percent of the electric power needs for the White Rose grocery warehouse site, which is owned by KTR Capital Partners. The system was installed by Solar Power Inc., using over 22,000 panels manufactured by LDK Solar.

A similarly large-scale solar project has just been dedicated in Arizona, where Constellation Energy completed an aggregate 4.29 MW for the Buckeye Union High School District.

The district’s solar power systems comprise about 15,468 photovoltaic panels, located on 29 carport rooftop structures and on two ground-mounted installations at three sites – Buckeye Union High School and Youngker High School in Buckeye, Ariz., and Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear, Ariz., (pictured).

The project is expected to generate more than 7 million kWh of electricity per year, enough electricity to power the three high schools, meeting up to 70 percent of the school district’s electricity needs. The panels are expected to save 3,875 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Constellation will own and maintain the system, and the school district will purchase and receive all of the electricity generated by the solar panels, at a fixed rate under a 25-year solar services agreement.

The installations, which were developed by GV Enterprises and REgeneration Finance and built by CORE Construction, were facilitated, in part, by the Arizona Corporation Commission-approved APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program. This program offers financial incentives, covering up to 40 percent of the installation costs, to customers who add renewable energy systems to their homes or businesses.