Large solar array planned for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

U.S. Air Force

The Air Force plans to expand its renewable energy portfolio substantially with a 14.5-megawatt photovoltaic solar array at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The base has entered into an agreement with SunEdison, LLC to design, finance, build, operate and maintain the array on 170 acres of underutilized base property. Construction will begin soon with completion planned for no later than December 2012.

The power purchase agreement provides electricity to Davis-Monthan at a reduced rate for a period of 25 years saving the base from $400,000 to $500,000 a year in utility costs. The project will provide 35 percent of the energy needed to power Davis-Monthan. It will be slightly larger than the Nellis AFB, Nev., photovoltaic solar array built in 2007.

According to Ken Gray, the Rates and Renewables Branch Chief at the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, Tyndall AFB, Fla., the array has to be built and generating electricity by the end of the year…