SOLON and UniSource to Bring Milestone 1.22 MW Solar Power Plant to Kingman, Arizona

1.22 MW Single-axis Tracker System at La Senita Elementary School will be Largest PV System on Arizona School Property

TUCSON, Ariz.--()--SOLON Corporation, one of the largest providers of turnkey solar power plants and manufacturer of crystalline silicon solar modules in the U.S., today announced an agreement with UniSource Energy Services (UES) that will bring a 1.22 megawatt (MW) solar system to Kingman, Arizona. Powered by SOLON systems and modules, the plant will provide a faster, more cost-effective way for UES to integrate solar power into its renewable energy portfolio for Kingman residents.

UES will own and operate the system on six acres owned by the Kingman Unified School District (KUSD) behind La Senita Elementary School. It will be the largest single physical photovoltaic (PV) system on school property in the state of Arizona. SOLON is leading the engineering, procurement and construction services.

For the Kingman system, SOLON is providing a comprehensive level of products, development and support. In total, the system will feature six of SOLON’s single-axis trackers, utilizing more than 5,000 UL-certified 235-watt solar modules, which are manufactured at the company’s Tucson headquarters. To help ensure the plant’s performance and efficiency, the company is also providing its SCADA system, which enables remote control and monitoring.

“As a Tucson-based company, SOLON Corporation takes great pride in bringing clean, affordable solar energy to neighboring Arizona communities,” said Dan Alcombright, Chief Executive Officer and President of North America for SOLON. “La Senita is a testament to Kingman’s commitment to renewable energy and the success of partnerships between solar providers, utilities and schools.”

“In addition to helping UES meet its renewable energy goals, this system will provide an estimated $1 million to $1.5 million impact on the local economy,” said Carmine Tilghman, Director of Renewable Resources for UES and its parent company, UniSource Energy Corporation (NYSE: UNS). “We’re grateful that KUSD and La Senita Elementary School share our enthusiasm for this project, and we look forward to developing similar partnerships in the future as we expand our renewable energy resources.”

Local Mohave County contractors will assist in the installation of the system. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011.

About SOLON Corporation

SOLON Corporation (www.SOLON.com), a leader in utility-scale and large commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems, offers a unique combination of PV module manufacturing and power plant expertise to the North American market. SOLON delivers complete and cost-effective turnkey PV systems solutions to its partners with a streamlined approach from design and construction to financing and operation. With module manufacturing facilities in Tucson, AZ, SOLON is driven by a passion for ecological change and a commitment to providing superior solar solutions with unrivaled quality and reliability. Founded in 2007, SOLON Corporation is a subsidiary of SOLON SE, a leading international provider of solar solutions for residential, commercial and utility-scale applications. SOLON SE operates subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, France and the US with more than 800 employees worldwide.

About UniSource Energy Services

UniSource Energy Services, a subsidiary of UniSource Energy Corporation, provides natural gas and electric service to more than 237,000 customers across Arizona. To learn more, visit uesaz.com. For more information about UniSource Energy, visit uns.com.

Contacts

Schwartz Communications, Inc.
Tiffany Darmetko, 781-684-0770
solon@schwartzcomm.com
Fax: 781-684-6500
or
SOLON Corporation
Patricia Browne, 520-647-8754
patricia.browne@solon.com
Fax: 520-807-4046
or
UniSource Energy Services
Joe Salkowski, 520-884-3625
jsalkowski@uns.com
Fax: 520-545-1432

Release Summary

SOLON Corporation today announced an agreement with UniSource Energy Services (UES) that will bring a 1.22 megawatt (MW) solar system to Kingman, Arizona.

Contacts

Schwartz Communications, Inc.
Tiffany Darmetko, 781-684-0770
solon@schwartzcomm.com
Fax: 781-684-6500
or
SOLON Corporation
Patricia Browne, 520-647-8754
patricia.browne@solon.com
Fax: 520-807-4046
or
UniSource Energy Services
Joe Salkowski, 520-884-3625
jsalkowski@uns.com
Fax: 520-545-1432