The dedication last Friday of Atlantic City Convention Center’s new solar roof heralded the end of the largest single roof-mounted grid connect solar construction project in the United States.
The 2.37 megawatt rooftop solar power system, physically completed last December, covers over 26,900 square meters and incorporates 13,486 monocrystalline solar panels. The array is capable of producing an average of 26 percent of the convention center’s annual electricity needs. During America’s winter, the installation still provided enough electricity to meet 15% of the Center’s requirements
According to an article on CNN, it’s estimated the solar panels will avoid the release of 2,349 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the equivalent to removing 390 passenger vehicles from the road or reducing oil consumption by nearly 5,000 barrels per year.
The array was financed by Pepco Energy Services, who also hold a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Atlantic City Convention Center to buy the electricity generated from the system. Jeff Vasser, president of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, says that the organization will save USD $4.4 million over the 20 years of the contract.
While promoting environmental stewardship through an investment in zero emissions solar technology, Pepco Energy Services and Atlantic City Convention Center were also able to add 8,000 man days of green jobs to the local economy.
