U.S: navy secretary Ray Mabus announced yesterday Navy and Marine Corps housing units in the San Diego area will receive rooftop PV systems through a power purchase agreement between Lincoln Military Housing and SolarCity.
The deal, one of SolarCity's largest residential undertakings, under its SolarStrong Initiative, will provide solar power to nearly 6,000 homes across 27 privatized neighborhoods which, with pending design and interconnection approvals, could generate 20 MW of solar energy.
"Securing renewable energy is a top priority across the Department of the Navy and is crucial to ensuring both mission resilience and cost savings in the decades to come," said Mabus.
"This agreement is another step forward in moving the needle on our 1 GW goal. We will continue to push forward and ensure projects like this are identified and executed to meet our 2015 deadline."
Jarl Bliss, president of Lincoln Military Housing added: "For the last few years, we have worked closely with the Department of the Navy to find a renewable energy program which will greatly benefit our military families and support our Navy partner in reaching its renewable energy goals. Through this agreement with SolarCity, Lincoln is estimating savings of at least $60 million over the 20-year term that can be reinvested in project sustainment."
San Diego Family Housing, LLC, comprised of Lincoln/Clark San Diego, LLC and the Department of the Navy, has agreed to purchase all electricity produced by the systems at below the cost of brown power over the 20-year term of the agreement resulting in long-term savings which will be reinvested in the communities, providing military families residing in the public-private venture housing with an improved quality of living.
SolarCity will be responsible for the design, installation, monitoring and maintenance of the PV systems, as part of the company's SolarStrong initiative to provide solar energy to military housing communities nationwide. SolarCity employs more than 300 veterans.
"Energy in the United States needs to become cleaner, more secure and more affordable, and few realize this more clearly than the leadership of the Department of the Navy," said SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive. "With this SolarStrong project, Lincoln Military Housing is contributing to the wellbeing of its residents, and to the nation."
Assembly speaker Toni Atkins, for the San Diego district, and who represents the military communities of Beech Street Knolls, Gateway Village, Holly Square, Park Summit, Silver Strand, and Village, at NTC agreed, adding: "I am pleased that the Department of the Navy (DON), Lincoln Military Housing and SolarCity are part of this innovative public-partnership to help the DON meet its renewable energy goals, allowing thousands of military families to benefit from clean energy, and to help our state address the impacts of climate change."
"These projects on off-base military housing represent a great step forward in helping the Department of the Navy reach its ambitious renewable and energy independence goals," said assembly member Kevin Mullin, for San Mateo, district, and who pushed for legislation this year to clear the path for more clean energy development at Californian military bases.
"This collaboration between SolarCity and the Department of the Navy will improve energy security, increase our energy independence, and provides another example of how innovative companies can partner with government agencies to lead this state and the nation toward a cleaner economy."
"Bringing solar power to thousands of military-family homes across San Diego makes all the sense in the world," said U.S. Congressman Scott Peters, whose 52nd congressional district includes San Diego.
"As the military continues its effort to move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable sources, solar will be a key part of the arsenal. And many of our region's veterans have been able to put their skills to work at solar installation companies, including Solar City, making this project a great combination for the San Diego military community."
The project is also part of a larger, guided effort spearheaded by secretary Mabus to identify cost-effective renewable energy projects for DON installations to achieve the secretary's goal of producing or procuring 1 GW of renewable energy by the end of 2015.
