Greentech Lead America: Washington Gas Energy Systems has been selected to build, own and operate two 1,215-kilowatt solar arrays at Cleveland and Rio Rancho High Schools.
As part of this contract, the company has partnered with AMSOLAR, a provider of solar energy solutions for school districts, corporations, and municipalities, and Conergy, a supplier of solar energy solutions.
Washington Gas Energy Systems will own and operate the systems under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The project was developed by AMSOLAR and will be constructed by Conergy, which is also supplying the equipment for both schools.
The arrays, when completed, will be the first successful power purchase agreement arrangement completed by Washington Gas Energy Systems with a public school system in the state of New Mexico. The project is currently under construction and will be completed this summer, the company said.
“This project did not require any upfront financial investment on the part of the school district and will bring clean, renewable solar power to both of our high schools,” said Al Sena, executive director of facilities at Rio Rancho Public Schools.
“At a time when budgets are tight, we’ve worked with AMSOLAR and Washington Gas Energy Systems to develop a very worthwhile venture that reduces our energy costs from the moment the system goes live while bettering the quality of life for our community.”
Each solar installation will feature 2.9 miles of Conergy SolarLinea mounting systems, a ground-mounted solution. When completed, the installations are expected to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to the recycling of 1,136 tons of waste instead of sending it to a landfill or taking 632 passenger cars off the road for one year.
When completed, the expected annual output will produce 80 percent of the electricity required to power Cleveland and Rio Rancho High Schools.