GRESHAM, Ore. - (Business Wire) On Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 10:00 a.m., the City of Gresham, REC Solar and SunEdison, will celebrate the activation of the largest ground mount solar power array in the Pacific Northwest at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant located at 20015 NE Sandy Blvd. This 419 kW solar power system was made possible by SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services company, a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR), and REC Solar, the nation’s leading solar integrator, through a power purchase agreement that required no upfront capital from the City. The solar array system will generate an estimated 460,000 kWh of clean solar energy in the first year of operation. That is enough energy to power 43 homes for one year. Over 20 years, the system will generate more than 8 million kWh of energy; enough energy to power over 780 average US homes for one year.
The solar power system is made available with no upfront cost from the taxpayers. SunEdison owns, operates and maintains it, and the City purchases the energy produced for the term of the contract.
“The City’s commitment to this project demonstrates that solar is a viable source of energy for our community,” said Mayor Shane T. Bemis. “By having such a visible display we are showing that Gresham is a player in the solar industry and is a strong market for solar products.”
The system was constructed through a partnership with SunEdison, REC Solar and incentives provided by the Energy Trust of Oregon. REC Solar designed and installed the system, which created over 20 jobs for the project.
"This solar array is a benchmark project for the industry, which should encourage many more waste treatment facilities across the country to develop substantial plans for solar and other alternative energy sources that will help create jobs and stimulate local economies," said CEO of REC Solar Angiolo Laviziano.
“SunEdison continues to provide cities across the nation the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of solar energy,” said Jaime A. Smith, Vice President of Sales for SunEdison. “We make this a reality with our strong financing capabilities and our partnerships with outstanding solar integrators like REC Solar.”
For more information about the array and the wastewater treatment plant visit GreshamOregon.gov.
About City of Gresham
With a population of over 100,000, Gresham is the fourth largest city in Oregon. The City is committed to building a sustainable economy, ensuring it is meeting the needs of the community now and in the future while protecting the environment and conserving its natural resources.
About REC Solar
REC Solar, Inc. specializes in grid-tied solar electric design and installation, offering affordable solar solutions for all residential, commercial, government and utility customers. With a local presence in all major solar markets in the US and millions of watts installed, REC Solar is committed to lowering the cost of solar power through efficient processes, innovative products, and outstanding customer service. In 2009, REC Solar installed more solar electric systems in the U.S. than any other company. REC Solar is the nation's leading solar integrator and currently has over a dozen offices throughout six states (AZ, CA, CO, HI, OR and NJ). REC Solar is continuing its rapid expansion into other states and has the capability to implement solar installations in every location as incentives become available.
About SunEdison
SunEdison is North America's largest solar energy services provider. The company finances, installs and operates distributed power plants using proven photovoltaic technologies, delivering fully managed, predictably priced solar energy services for its commercial, government and utility customers. For more information about SunEdison, please visit www.sunedison.com.
About MEMC
MEMC is a global leader in the manufacture and sale of wafers and related intermediate products to the semiconductor and solar industries. MEMC has been a pioneer in the design and development of wafer technologies over the past 50 years. With R&D and manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia, MEMC enables the next generation of high performance semiconductor devices and solar cells. With the acquisition of SunEdison, MEMC is now a developer of solar power projects and North America's largest solar energy services provider.
MEMC's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "WFR" and is included in the S&P 500 Index. For more information about MEMC, please visit www.memc.com.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Time: 10:00AM
Location: Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant, 20015 N.E. Sandy Blvd
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6165160&lang=en
REC Corporate
Isabelle Christensen, 650-815-6778
or
REC Oregon
Andy Noel, 503-866-1102
or
City of Gresham
Laura Bridges-Shepard, 503-618-2247
or
SunEdison
Brad Oswald, 240-338-1979
