WACONIA, Minn. & MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of WGL (NYSE: WGL) today announced the completion of a 40-kilowatt (KW) solar array that will produce renewable energy for Waconia High School. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Monday to celebrate the completion of the project, one of 13 solar arrays being completed in partnership with New Energy Equity, Innovative Power Systems, tenKsolar, and ICS Consulting.
“This strategic expansion into the state of Minnesota further diversifies our footprint of renewable energy projects throughout the country, and we are thrilled to celebrate these 13 projects throughout Minnesota at Waconia High School,” said Sanjiv Mahan, chief operating officer of Washington Gas Energy Systems. “Working with schools to make solar power a reality is especially rewarding as it serves an educational purpose for future generations, and we look forward to future projects in the Midwest.”
The roof-mounted system will be owned and operated by Washington Gas Energy Systems under a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Waconia Public Schools. ICS Consulting managed early stage development, while New Energy Equity completed late stage development and organized financing for the project, and Innovative Power Systems developed, engineered, and managed construction for the project. The solar installation, including modules, inverters and racking was manufactured by tenKsolar.
“Showcasing the importance of sustainable energy is an amazing opportunity for our school and our students,” said Mark Fredericksen, principal, Waconia High School. “This project will ensure reliable energy costs for our school district over the next 15 years, allowing us to direct funds to other important projects.”
The installation is composed of 96 solar panels, and is expected to produce over 54,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, enough electricity to offset the CO2 emissions from over 4,190 gallons of gasoline per year.
“This team is helping to make solar power a reality throughout Minnesota, working with schools and other organizations that will save money on electricity while reducing their environmental impacts,” said Matthew Hankey, chief operating officer, New Energy Equity. “Our innovative approach to financing renewable energy projects makes solar power a viable, affordable option for school systems, municipalities and businesses in the Midwest and throughout the country.”
Other projects under construction by this team in Minnesota include 39-kilowatt projects at Annandale Elementary School, Annandale High School, Annandale Middle School, Becker High School, Holdingford Elementary School, Holdingford High School, Lester Prairie Water Treatment Center, People of Praise Minnesota, Rockford Elementary School, and two projects at Riverton Community Housing, as well as a 13-kilowatt project at Latino Economic Development Center. All projects are expected to be completed by April, 2015, and together they are expected to produce almost 700,000-kilowatt hours of solar energy each year.
“We congratulate Waconia High School for the leadership team’s dedication to bringing this project to fruition,” said Jamie Borell, sales/operations manager, Innovative Power Systems. “Our team is proud to complete these 13 solar systems as we work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota.”
About Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc.:
Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc., an affiliate of Washington Gas Light Company and a subsidiary of WGL Holdings (NYSE: WGL), design-builds and owns custom energy solutions that deliver financial, operational and carbon reduction results for customers across the United States. Washington Gas Energy Systems is focused on energy efficiency projects and distributed generation assets including solar and fuel cells. For more information on how Washington Gas Energy Systems can make solar power a reality for you, call 703-333-3900. For further information about Washington Gas Energy Systems, please visit www.wgesystems.com
About Waconia Public Schools:
Independent School District No. 110 also known as Waconia Public Schools is an outer ring Minneapolis suburban school district serves a general population of approximately 19,000 and covers an area of about 99 square miles. The District owns and operates all of its facilities in the city of Waconia. The District has one senior high school, one middle school, two elementary schools and one multipurpose facility which serve over 3,750 students. The District provides a full range of public education services appropriate to our students in grade levels ranging from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. These services include regular and enriched academic education, special education and career/vocational education. Food service and transportation are provided as supporting programs. The District’s community education program includes Early Childhood and Family Education programs, Adult Basic Education programs, School Readiness and a wide variety of classes for lifelong learning experiences for children and adults.
About New Energy Equity:
New Energy Equity specialized in the financing and development of commercial and small utility renewable energy projects. For more information please contact New Energy Equity at 443-267-5012 or visit their website at www.newenergyequity.com.
About Innovative Power Systems:
Innovative Power Systems (IPS) designs, installs, and services solar electric, solar thermal, and electric vehicle charging stations for residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications. For more information, contact Jamie Borell at 651-789-5305 or visit ips-solar.com
