Mar 11 2014
WGL Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, Washington Gas Energy Systems (WGESystems), announced a 2.6 megawatt (MW) Bloom Energy project in Santa Clara County, Ca. (SCC). WGESystems will finance, build, own and operate the 2.6 MW Bloom Energy project and sell all energy generated to SCC under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
The Bloom Energy Servers will generate clean and reliable power using natural gas and biogas, reducing the County’s carbon emissions by nearly 5 million pounds each year.
“WGL is committed to providing clean and efficient energy answers while remaining a responsible steward of our resources,” said WGL Chairman and CEO, Terry D. McCallister. “We are proud to partner with Bloom Energy, and to service Santa Clara County, as we continue to invest in clean energy solutions as part of our expanding diversified energy portfolio.”
Bloom Energy’s solid oxide fuel cell technology generates electricity through a highly efficient electrochemical process and provides clean, on-site energy. WGESystems designs-builds, owns and operates energy solutions that deliver financial, operational and carbon reduction results for non-residential customers across the United States. For projects such as this one, WGESystems has established a financing program that enables customers, including non-profit organizations, to deploy Bloom Energy’s distributed, clean power solution.
“Santa Clara County has been a strong proponent of clean energy, and we are looking forward to having another project right here in our backyard,” said KR Sridhar, Principal Co-Founder and CEO of Bloom Energy. “Energy industry partners that are willing to invest in technology projects are key to the development of a clean energy economy, and our partnership with Washington Gas Energy Systems continues to strengthen our ability to provide attractive projects for our growing customer base.”
“The County of Santa Clara was one the primary leaders in creating the 20-year power purchase agreement with other local jurisdictions,” said Supervisor Dave Cortese, Chair of the Board’s Housing Land Use Environment and Transportation Committee. “The agreement demonstrates that there is a market for clean energy solutions and it supports the County’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint.”
Alternative Energy Development Group (AEDG) served as the developer for the Bloom Energy project at four SCC facilities.