Washington Gas Energy Systems today announced that the company is unveiling a 434-kilowatt solar array developed in collaboration with the town of Brookfield, Mass. The company is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Brookfield today to celebrate the completion of the solar project alongside representatives from several state organizations including the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. Washington Gas Energy Systems will own and operate the array under a 20-year power purchasing agreement.
With the completion of the Brookfield solar array, Washington Gas Energy Systems now owns and operates six projects in Massachusetts, including a 4,000-kilowatt system in Marshfield, a 3,802-kilowatt system in Bellingham, a 3,600-kilowatt system in Southbridge, a 2,400-kilowatt system in Orange, a 1,200-kilowatt system in Maynard and a 434-kilowatt system in Brookfield.
"Washington Gas Energy Systems has strategically invested in solar energy in Massachusetts, and now owns and operates more than 15 megawatts throughout the state," said Sanjiv Mahan, vice president of business development for Washington Gas Energy Systems. "The town of Brookfield is joining our growing list of forward-thinking clients across the country who can expect predictable electricity rates in the coming years, all while lessening their environmental impacts. We will continue investing in clean and reliable energy assets and assist states achieve their long-term energy goals."
The 434-kilowatt system is comprised of 1,846 solar panels and located on a capped landfill. The ground-mounted solar array covers approximately three acres of land. The system is expected to produce more than 500,000 kilowatt hours of clean energy each year, which is equivalent to the total annual electrical usage of almost 100 average single-family homes. The array will help power many Brookfield government functions including schools, street lighting and the Town Hall.
"Brookfield may be one of the oldest towns in the Commonwealth, but it does not to rest on its historical laurels. With its partnership with Washington Gas Energy Systems in setting up this solar farm that will satisfy the Municipality's electricity needs for the next 20 years, the Town is leapfrogging into the 21st century," said Rudy Heller, chair of the Brookfield Solar Project Committee. "The Town is not only reducing its carbon footprint, but we have added a guaranteed revenue stream to our budgetary process."
The solar array is located at 9 Quaboag St. in Brookfield.
