WASHINGTON (Dec. 8, 2014) – The U.S. Army issued Sunpower Corporation a ‘Notice of Intent to Award’ (NOIA) to develop a large-scale renewable energy solar project on Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The proposed project will provide up to 18,000 megawatt-hours per year of on-site renewable energy to the installation.
This large-scale renewable energy project is a joint effort between the Army Office of Energy Initiatives (OEI), Redstone Arsenal, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Ala.
In the coming months, Sunpower Corporation and the Army project team will work to finalize the technical and legal requirements of the project. The NOIA demonstrates the Army’s continued commitment to and progress towards achieving greater resilience, energy security and sustainability at installations across the country.
This is the first large-scale renewable energy project to use the renewable and alternative energy Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC). The MATOC is an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle that established a pool of qualified firms or contractors who can compete for individual task order contracts for renewable generation on or adjacent to federal lands utilizing one of four renewable energy technologies (i.e., solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal).
The Redstone Arsenal project was open to proposals from 49 solar companies previously qualified under the MATOC, and is expected to include a Lease and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). All electricity from the project will be consumed by Redstone Arsenal and purchased at a cost equal to or less than current and projected utility rates. Sunpower Corporation will finance, design, build, operate, own, and maintain the solar facility.
“I am excited to report that we are moving forward on the first of our two large-scale renewable energy projects at Redstone Arsenal: this solar project and a Combined Heat and Power project. These two privately-financed projects will provide Redstone Arsenal with a sufficient and affordable energy supply to handle critical mission operations if the power from the grid is disrupted,” said Ms. Amanda Simpson, OEI executive director. “We look forward to building additional relationships with industry partners, like Sunpower Corporation, to enhance energy security across our installations.”
The OEI is also working on or has executed large-scale renewable energy projects in Alabama, Georgia, California, New York, Arizona, Hawaii, and Maryland.
To continue the discussion and follow OEI projects on social media, use #HOOAHenergy.