Oct 20 2010
Vanguard Energy Partners LLC, a designer and integrator of solar power systems, declared that it has been contracted by the Somerset County Improvement Authority (SCIA) to set up solar energy generating projects in the county. The contract requires the company to install solar power generating systems at 31 places owned by the county and government to generate 7.6 MW of solar electricity.
Vanguard Energy is installing the systems under a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA), with the participating government agencies. As per the clauses of the agreement the participating government agencies under the banner of SCIA will not make any capital investment in the project. Vanguard will invest, construct, possess, run and supervise the solar systems for a period of 15 years. The company will sell the electric power generated from the solar projects to the County at a pre-arranged economical price. The project when completed will save around $18.35 million spent from the tax payer’s kitty in the 15 year PPA period and offset 15,428,397 lbs of carbon discharge every year. The generated solar power can be compared to removing of 1,338 fossil fuel using passenger cars or growing 66.4 acres of forest land every year.
Jim LaFleur, CEO of Vanguard expressed his happiness to support the clean energy effort of the county. He added that the public and private partnership in the project will benefit both the participants and ultimately promotes the clean energy environment.