Bristol Community College (BCC), nonprofit energy-buying consortium PowerOptions, and its solar partner SunEdison have unveiled a 3.2 megawatt solar power project at the parking lot of the college campus.
It is touted to be the largest solar parking canopy in New England. The project covers 800 parking spaces on five acres of BCC’s Fall River Campus.
The solar array is expected to generate more than 34 million kilowatt hours of energy each year. It would be adequate to meet half the electricity needs of the campus. Also, the project would deliver savings of more than $1.75 million over twenty years.
In terms of greenhouse gas emission, the project is expected to cut more than 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide annually, which in terms of vehicles is the equivalent of removing 5,000 cars from roads.
BCC has signed a power purchase agreement with SunEdison to buy output from the solar canopy for a guaranteed price over the next 20 years. SunEdison Services will take care of the operation and maintenance of the solar canopy system.
Ajith Kumar S