PSEG and JEA dedicate Jacksonville Solar
PC's Solar Photovoltaics Blog
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) and JEA hosted business,community and government leaders at the dedication of PSEG JacksonvilleSolar, northern Florida’s largest solar facility.
PSEGJacksonville Solar is a 15-megawatt facility consisting of 200,000ground mounted solar panels situated on 100 acres in Jacksonville,Florida. On a sunny day the panels will produce enough emissions-freeelectricity to keep the lights on and air conditioning humming for morethan 12,000 homes in Jacksonville.
PSEG Jacksonville Solar is the largest solar installation owned by PSEG Solar Source, PSEG’sunregulated solar developer. The local municipal utility, JEA initiatedthe solar effort and has a long-term agreement with PSEG Solar Source to purchase the electricity generated by the solar panels. Florida basedMiller Electric Company was the primary construction contractor. Nearlyall of the construction jobs created by the project were filled byFlorida residents.
"The solar market in the US is growing fastand we are growing with it. PSEG believes there are strong benefits topromoting a green economy: reductions in CO2 and other pollutants, less reliance on foreign oil (as we electrify transportation) and thecreation of jobs," said Ralph Izzo, chairman, president and CEO of PSEG. "This project shows how solar can deliver clean energy to customers,jobs for the local economy and fair returns to investors."
"JEAmade a commitment to pursue renewable, clean energy in 1999, at a timewhen going green wasn’t a trend," said Jim Dickenson, JEA MD and CEO."This partnership with PSEG allows JEA to further its commitment and togain first-hand knowledge about solar energy from a utility-scalefacility."
"PSEG Solar Source can locate solar facilitiesanywhere in the US but chose Jacksonville for three reasons: strongFlorida sun, a partner in JEA with a vision for delivering clean energyto its customers and a political climate that is supportive of solardevelopment," said Diana Drysdale, who heads PSEG Solar Source. "Whilethis is our largest product to date, it is not our last. We are actively developing additional solar projects here in the US."
juwi solar USA Inc. (JSI), based in Colorado was the engineering, procurement andconstruction contractor and developed the facility. The panels weremanufactured by First Solar.
