An Air Force base in Hawai’i will become one of the largest solar powered communities in the USA, with solar energy systems to be installed on 600 homes at a Pearl Harbor military estate.
SolarCity will partner with Lend Lease, owner and manager of Hickam Communities, to install solar on the base. The companies say the project will provide four megawatts (MW) of clean power to over 2000 military family homes, totalling 5.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, and also create 55 new jobs. Carbon emissions avoided through the use of these solar power systems will be the equivalent of taking 23,000 cars off the road.
The Air Force is partly bankrolling the Hickam solar project, which will contribute to the US Department of Defence’s renewable energy target of 25 percent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2025.
"Entering into this power purchase agreement with support from Air Force leadership has given us an opportunity to give back to our families today and into the future," says Jerry Schmitz, project director of Hickam Communities. "In addition to reducing emissions, money saved can go back into maintaining our community and providing services and programs for our families."
Hawai’i is well known for its plentiful sunshine and bountiful beaches, but the island state suffers from a lack of energy resources, relying on fuel imports for much of its needs.
"Hickam Communities and Lend Lease’s use of renewable, solar energy will have a positive impact on the local environment and island economy,” says SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive. "This project will help reduce the expense and pollution created by imported oil."
SolarCity has become a solar industry poster child in America of late, with internet giant Google last month investing $280 million in the company to help finance residential solar energy projects.
