Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Power-One opens Plant in Phoenix
Solar-energy plant opens in Phoenix
Power-One may hire 1,000 eventually; Ariz. advantages cited
By Griselda Nevarez
CRONKITE NEWS SERVICE
PHOENIX — Attending a renewable- energy factory’s grand opening Monday, Gov. Jan Brewer said Arizona will become the U.S. leader in solar manufacturing and technology.
“I believe Arizona is the destination in the nation for solar companies to locate and expand,” she said.
Brewer, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and other dignitaries were on hand as Camarillo, Calif.based Power-One Inc., the world’s second-largest manufacturer of devices that convert power produced from batteries and solar panels, launched a 122,000square-foot facility near Sky Harbor International Airport. Forty people are working there to start.
The plant is expected to employ 350 people in the next five years and could eventually have 1,000 workers.
“There’s a great employee base here, but we also chose Arizona because of the solar corridor that the governor has created,” said Richard Thompson, Power-One’s CEO and president.
Thompson said the potential to collaborate with Arizona State University also attracted the company to Phoenix, and he credited the Arizona Commerce Authority, which Brewer created last year to have business leaders help guide the state’s economic future and attract companies.
Gordon said Power-One will help get Arizonans back to work.
The plant will be able to eventually produce photovoltaic panels to capture and convert the sun’s energy and wind inverters that can produce enough electricity for 2 million homes.
Alex Levran, president of renewable- energy solutions for Power-One, said the company has collaborated with ASU to develop innovative technologies because of the university’s “very good development programs and design programs.”
Arizona Corporation Commissioner Sandra Kennedy said the state’s combination of abundant sunshine and existing manufacturing firms makes it a prime location for renewable-energy companies. “Our main focus is to put more people to work in these areas,” she said.
Power-One may hire 1,000 eventually; Ariz. advantages cited
By Griselda Nevarez
CRONKITE NEWS SERVICE
PHOENIX — Attending a renewable- energy factory’s grand opening Monday, Gov. Jan Brewer said Arizona will become the U.S. leader in solar manufacturing and technology.
“I believe Arizona is the destination in the nation for solar companies to locate and expand,” she said.
Brewer, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and other dignitaries were on hand as Camarillo, Calif.based Power-One Inc., the world’s second-largest manufacturer of devices that convert power produced from batteries and solar panels, launched a 122,000square-foot facility near Sky Harbor International Airport. Forty people are working there to start.
The plant is expected to employ 350 people in the next five years and could eventually have 1,000 workers.
“There’s a great employee base here, but we also chose Arizona because of the solar corridor that the governor has created,” said Richard Thompson, Power-One’s CEO and president.
Thompson said the potential to collaborate with Arizona State University also attracted the company to Phoenix, and he credited the Arizona Commerce Authority, which Brewer created last year to have business leaders help guide the state’s economic future and attract companies.
Gordon said Power-One will help get Arizonans back to work.
The plant will be able to eventually produce photovoltaic panels to capture and convert the sun’s energy and wind inverters that can produce enough electricity for 2 million homes.
Alex Levran, president of renewable- energy solutions for Power-One, said the company has collaborated with ASU to develop innovative technologies because of the university’s “very good development programs and design programs.”
Arizona Corporation Commissioner Sandra Kennedy said the state’s combination of abundant sunshine and existing manufacturing firms makes it a prime location for renewable-energy companies. “Our main focus is to put more people to work in these areas,” she said.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
GA Telesis, with Operations in Tucson, Makes Acquisition
January 28, 2011 09:43 AM Eastern Time
GA Telesis Acquires Additional Composite MRO Facility and Re-brands it as GA Telesis Composite Repair Group
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GA Telesis, LLC ("GAT"), today announced conclusion of the acquisition of assets and certain liabilities of Ultimate Aircraft Composites, LLC, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida based component MRO (“UAC or the Company”).
“The addition of military component capability to our existing range of commercial and regional aircraft capability will allow us to complete the circle of complex composite and structural repair services”
UAC, established in [2002], is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in a 45,000 square foot facility. The Company is currently capable of supporting the repair and manufacture of Bombardier, Airbus, Boeing, Douglas and Embraer structural and composite components including, but not limited to, tail cones, radomes, doors, and flight control surfaces as well as nacelle and thrust/fan reverser actuation systems. Additionally, the Company maintains several contracts for the repair of structural military components for various governmental and military agencies.
“Expansion of our composites and structural businesses will allow GA Telesis to expand on the services it currently provides to the world’s leading airlines,” stated Brad Herring, General Manager GA Telesis Component Repair Group. “The addition of military component capability to our existing range of commercial and regional aircraft capability will allow us to complete the circle of complex composite and structural repair services,” he added.
GA Telesis Composite Repair Group will be added to the family of component MROs owned by GA Telesis, LLC to include: GA Telesis Component Repair Group Southeast (based in Miami, Florida) and GA Telesis Component Repair Group Southwest (Tucson, Arizona). This new addition to the GA Telesis family of component MROs expands the broad range of repair services we can offer our customers and includes thousands of aerospace components. GA Telesis, LLC is a global leader in the commercial aerospace support industry. With distribution and MRO facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Singapore, GA Telesis specializes in commercial aircraft and jet engine leasing as well as maintaining one of the world's largest replacement aerospace component inventory networks. GA Telesis serves the world’s largest airlines and maintenance organizations support for Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Douglas and Embraer aircraft and components as well as CFM International, General Electric, Honeywell, International Aero Engine, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce turbine jet engines and replacement components.
Contacts
GA Telesis, LLC
Nicole VandenHeuvel, +1-954-676-3111
nvandenheuvel@gatelesis.com
See: http://www.gatelesis.com/crg-southwest.html
GA Telesis Acquires Additional Composite MRO Facility and Re-brands it as GA Telesis Composite Repair Group
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GA Telesis, LLC ("GAT"), today announced conclusion of the acquisition of assets and certain liabilities of Ultimate Aircraft Composites, LLC, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida based component MRO (“UAC or the Company”).
“The addition of military component capability to our existing range of commercial and regional aircraft capability will allow us to complete the circle of complex composite and structural repair services”
UAC, established in [2002], is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in a 45,000 square foot facility. The Company is currently capable of supporting the repair and manufacture of Bombardier, Airbus, Boeing, Douglas and Embraer structural and composite components including, but not limited to, tail cones, radomes, doors, and flight control surfaces as well as nacelle and thrust/fan reverser actuation systems. Additionally, the Company maintains several contracts for the repair of structural military components for various governmental and military agencies.
“Expansion of our composites and structural businesses will allow GA Telesis to expand on the services it currently provides to the world’s leading airlines,” stated Brad Herring, General Manager GA Telesis Component Repair Group. “The addition of military component capability to our existing range of commercial and regional aircraft capability will allow us to complete the circle of complex composite and structural repair services,” he added.
GA Telesis Composite Repair Group will be added to the family of component MROs owned by GA Telesis, LLC to include: GA Telesis Component Repair Group Southeast (based in Miami, Florida) and GA Telesis Component Repair Group Southwest (Tucson, Arizona). This new addition to the GA Telesis family of component MROs expands the broad range of repair services we can offer our customers and includes thousands of aerospace components. GA Telesis, LLC is a global leader in the commercial aerospace support industry. With distribution and MRO facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Singapore, GA Telesis specializes in commercial aircraft and jet engine leasing as well as maintaining one of the world's largest replacement aerospace component inventory networks. GA Telesis serves the world’s largest airlines and maintenance organizations support for Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Douglas and Embraer aircraft and components as well as CFM International, General Electric, Honeywell, International Aero Engine, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce turbine jet engines and replacement components.
Contacts
GA Telesis, LLC
Nicole VandenHeuvel, +1-954-676-3111
nvandenheuvel@gatelesis.com
See: http://www.gatelesis.com/crg-southwest.html
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Liberty Star Uranium Names Othon to Board
January 27, 2011 08:05 AM Eastern Time
Eduardo Othon Named to Liberty Star’s Board of Directors
TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. (the “Company”)(OTCBB:LBSR) is pleased to announce that Liberty Star Vice President Eduardo Othon has been named to the Company’s board of directors. Othon will continue as a Company Vice President with a new title: Vice President of Global Business Development. Eddie has made substantial progress in promoting Liberty Star in Middle Eastern financial centers and is scheduled to return to Abu Dhabi in early February.
“We appreciate Bill’s insights and expertise and wish him success.”
Board member Larry Liang has been promoted to Executive Vice President. In addition to his executive responsibilities he will continue working with the Company’s contacts in China. Further meetings and negotiations in the USA and China are being scheduled for 1st quarter, 2011.
William Cavalier, a Liberty Star board member since September 2009, has resigned from the board to pursue other business interests. Comments CEO James Briscoe, “We appreciate Bill’s insights and expertise and wish him success.”
“James A. Briscoe” James A. Briscoe,
President/Director
Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp.
Follow Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp.: Twitter LibertyStarLBSR.
Contacts
Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp.
Tracy Myers, Investor Relations
520-731-8786
http://www.LibertyStarUranium.com
info@LibertyStarUranium.com
Eduardo Othon Named to Liberty Star’s Board of Directors
TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. (the “Company”)(OTCBB:LBSR) is pleased to announce that Liberty Star Vice President Eduardo Othon has been named to the Company’s board of directors. Othon will continue as a Company Vice President with a new title: Vice President of Global Business Development. Eddie has made substantial progress in promoting Liberty Star in Middle Eastern financial centers and is scheduled to return to Abu Dhabi in early February.
“We appreciate Bill’s insights and expertise and wish him success.”
Board member Larry Liang has been promoted to Executive Vice President. In addition to his executive responsibilities he will continue working with the Company’s contacts in China. Further meetings and negotiations in the USA and China are being scheduled for 1st quarter, 2011.
William Cavalier, a Liberty Star board member since September 2009, has resigned from the board to pursue other business interests. Comments CEO James Briscoe, “We appreciate Bill’s insights and expertise and wish him success.”
“James A. Briscoe” James A. Briscoe,
President/Director
Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp.
Follow Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp.: Twitter LibertyStarLBSR.
Contacts
Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp.
Tracy Myers, Investor Relations
520-731-8786
http://www.LibertyStarUranium.com
info@LibertyStarUranium.com
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Bank of Tucson Sale to Grandpoint Completed
Grandpoint Capital, Inc.
January 25, 2011 04:15 PM Eastern Time
Grandpoint Capital, Inc., Announces Completion of Bank of Tucson Acquisition
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grandpoint Capital, Inc., a bank holding company, announced today that Southern Arizona Community Bank, of which it is a majority owner, completed the acquisition of the main office operations of Bank of Tucson after receiving all regulatory and shareholder approvals.
“With the financial strength of Grandpoint and the outstanding experience and leadership Jim and David bring to the bank, we have the ability to expand our presence in the southern Arizona region and bring enhanced product capabilities to our community.”
The acquisition was a purchase and assumption transaction whereby Southern Arizona acquired approximately $105 million in loans and assumed approximately $179 million in deposits along with the operating assets of the main office of the Bank of Tucson. The combined operations, with total assets of approximately $290 million, plans to conduct business under the Bank of Tucson name at two locations in Tucson.
Grandpoint Capital and a group of local Tucson investors acquired Southern Arizona Community Bank from Capitol Bancorp on December 10, 2010.
“We are very pleased to have such a strong presence in the southern Arizona market with the completion of the Bank of Tucson acquisition,” says James H. Click, Jr., chairman of the board of the newly consolidated entity. “We've combined two of the healthiest banks in the region, led by very experienced managers who know the southern Arizona market very well. We are delighted that they will be guiding our growth in a region we believe has tremendous long-term value.”
Former Bank of Tucson President and CEO Mike Hannley will serve in the same capacity for the newly combined organization. Hannley, a 38-year banking veteran, partnered with Capitol Bancorp in 1996 to launch Bank of Tucson. Southern Arizona Community Bank President and CEO John P. Lewis will now serve as Vice Chair of the combined entity. Lewis was recruited by Capitol Bancorp in 1998 to start Southern Arizona Community Bank. He serves on the FDIC's 14-member Advisory Committee on Community Banking.
Tucson businessmen Click and David T.C. Wright, who have served as chairman of the board and chair of the executive committee of Southern Arizona Community Bank, respectively, since the December 10, 2010 acquisition, will hold those positions with the combined entity. Click and Wright, part of the local Tucson investor group that acquired Southern Arizona Community Bank, were instrumental in initiating the partnership with Grandpoint Capital. Both business leaders have known Grandpoint Capital Chairman and CEO Don M. Griffith since he served on the board of directors of the former Tucson-based Arizona Bank in the 1990s. Wright was the former president and CEO of Arizona Bank and Click was chairman of the board and a majority shareholder.
“We have combined two very complementary organizations,” says Hannley. “With the financial strength of Grandpoint and the outstanding experience and leadership Jim and David bring to the bank, we have the ability to expand our presence in the southern Arizona region and bring enhanced product capabilities to our community.”
Grandpoint Capital, Inc., is a bank holding company headquartered at 333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4250, Los Angeles, Calif. Grandpoint Bank, its wholly owned subsidiary, has offices in downtown Los Angeles, Brentwood, El Segundo, Encino, Santa Ana and Westminster, Calif.
Grandpoint Bank serves small and mid-sized businesses, professionals and entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals with an integrated product set of personal client services, commercial banking and treasury management capabilities. It also provides correspondent services to financial institutions. At December 31, 2010, the bank had total assets of approximately $490 million.
Contacts
Grandpoint Capital
Penny Maines, 213.542.2716
January 25, 2011 04:15 PM Eastern Time
Grandpoint Capital, Inc., Announces Completion of Bank of Tucson Acquisition
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grandpoint Capital, Inc., a bank holding company, announced today that Southern Arizona Community Bank, of which it is a majority owner, completed the acquisition of the main office operations of Bank of Tucson after receiving all regulatory and shareholder approvals.
“With the financial strength of Grandpoint and the outstanding experience and leadership Jim and David bring to the bank, we have the ability to expand our presence in the southern Arizona region and bring enhanced product capabilities to our community.”
The acquisition was a purchase and assumption transaction whereby Southern Arizona acquired approximately $105 million in loans and assumed approximately $179 million in deposits along with the operating assets of the main office of the Bank of Tucson. The combined operations, with total assets of approximately $290 million, plans to conduct business under the Bank of Tucson name at two locations in Tucson.
Grandpoint Capital and a group of local Tucson investors acquired Southern Arizona Community Bank from Capitol Bancorp on December 10, 2010.
“We are very pleased to have such a strong presence in the southern Arizona market with the completion of the Bank of Tucson acquisition,” says James H. Click, Jr., chairman of the board of the newly consolidated entity. “We've combined two of the healthiest banks in the region, led by very experienced managers who know the southern Arizona market very well. We are delighted that they will be guiding our growth in a region we believe has tremendous long-term value.”
Former Bank of Tucson President and CEO Mike Hannley will serve in the same capacity for the newly combined organization. Hannley, a 38-year banking veteran, partnered with Capitol Bancorp in 1996 to launch Bank of Tucson. Southern Arizona Community Bank President and CEO John P. Lewis will now serve as Vice Chair of the combined entity. Lewis was recruited by Capitol Bancorp in 1998 to start Southern Arizona Community Bank. He serves on the FDIC's 14-member Advisory Committee on Community Banking.
Tucson businessmen Click and David T.C. Wright, who have served as chairman of the board and chair of the executive committee of Southern Arizona Community Bank, respectively, since the December 10, 2010 acquisition, will hold those positions with the combined entity. Click and Wright, part of the local Tucson investor group that acquired Southern Arizona Community Bank, were instrumental in initiating the partnership with Grandpoint Capital. Both business leaders have known Grandpoint Capital Chairman and CEO Don M. Griffith since he served on the board of directors of the former Tucson-based Arizona Bank in the 1990s. Wright was the former president and CEO of Arizona Bank and Click was chairman of the board and a majority shareholder.
“We have combined two very complementary organizations,” says Hannley. “With the financial strength of Grandpoint and the outstanding experience and leadership Jim and David bring to the bank, we have the ability to expand our presence in the southern Arizona region and bring enhanced product capabilities to our community.”
Grandpoint Capital, Inc., is a bank holding company headquartered at 333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4250, Los Angeles, Calif. Grandpoint Bank, its wholly owned subsidiary, has offices in downtown Los Angeles, Brentwood, El Segundo, Encino, Santa Ana and Westminster, Calif.
Grandpoint Bank serves small and mid-sized businesses, professionals and entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals with an integrated product set of personal client services, commercial banking and treasury management capabilities. It also provides correspondent services to financial institutions. At December 31, 2010, the bank had total assets of approximately $490 million.
Contacts
Grandpoint Capital
Penny Maines, 213.542.2716
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Spire CEO Headlines Scottsdale Photovoltaics Summitt 2011
http://www.spirecorp.com
January 19, 2011 04:43 PM Eastern Time
Spire Corporation’s CEO will be a Keynote Speaker at Photovoltaics Summit 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona
Roger G. Little to present on low cost utility solar farms.
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing capital equipment and turn-key manufacturing lines to produce photovoltaic (PV) modules and providing Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) integration services for solar systems, announced today its Chairman and CEO, Roger G. Little, will present “Low Cost Utility Solar Farms Using Supersized Modules” on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at the 6th Annual Photovoltaics Summit 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Low Cost Utility Solar Farms Using Supersized Modules”
Mr. Little’s presentation will occur at 11:15 a.m. MST at the conference’s venue, the FireSky Resort. His Manufacturing Trends and Development’s presentation will include information regarding:
* Utility solar farm market drivers;
* Minimizing solar farm capital costs;
* Crystalline silicon supersized module manufacturing;
* Solar farm systems cost reduction through the use of supersized modules; and
* Minimizing utility solar farm levelized cost of electricity by onsite deployment of supersized modules.
Spire will also have a booth in the exhibition area from January 19th through 21st, 2011. This will coincide with Mr. Little’s presentation and provide materials for those interested in learning more about low cost utility solar farms, as well as all that Spire Corporation has to offer.
About Spire Corporation
Spire Corporation is a global solar company providing capital equipment and turn-key production lines to manufacture PV modules. To learn more about Spire Corporation, visit www.SpireCorp.com or email PR@SpireCorp.com.
Contacts
Spire Corporation
Roger G. Little, 781-275-6000
Chairman & CEO
PR@SpireCorp.com
January 19, 2011 04:43 PM Eastern Time
Spire Corporation’s CEO will be a Keynote Speaker at Photovoltaics Summit 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona
Roger G. Little to present on low cost utility solar farms.
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing capital equipment and turn-key manufacturing lines to produce photovoltaic (PV) modules and providing Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) integration services for solar systems, announced today its Chairman and CEO, Roger G. Little, will present “Low Cost Utility Solar Farms Using Supersized Modules” on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at the 6th Annual Photovoltaics Summit 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Low Cost Utility Solar Farms Using Supersized Modules”
Mr. Little’s presentation will occur at 11:15 a.m. MST at the conference’s venue, the FireSky Resort. His Manufacturing Trends and Development’s presentation will include information regarding:
* Utility solar farm market drivers;
* Minimizing solar farm capital costs;
* Crystalline silicon supersized module manufacturing;
* Solar farm systems cost reduction through the use of supersized modules; and
* Minimizing utility solar farm levelized cost of electricity by onsite deployment of supersized modules.
Spire will also have a booth in the exhibition area from January 19th through 21st, 2011. This will coincide with Mr. Little’s presentation and provide materials for those interested in learning more about low cost utility solar farms, as well as all that Spire Corporation has to offer.
About Spire Corporation
Spire Corporation is a global solar company providing capital equipment and turn-key production lines to manufacture PV modules. To learn more about Spire Corporation, visit www.SpireCorp.com or email PR@SpireCorp.com.
Contacts
Spire Corporation
Roger G. Little, 781-275-6000
Chairman & CEO
PR@SpireCorp.com
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tucson: SunEdison PV Installation Provides 2MKWH
SOLAR-POWER PLANT ACTIVATED
1-megawatt facility expected to create jobs, curb pollution
By Alex Dalenberg
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Government officials and solar- power leaders hailed the activation Monday of a 1-megawatt solar plant on Tucson’s north side as a job-creating, money-saving, pollution-reducing boon to Pima County.
The plant’s 3,700 solar panels were built locally by Solon Corp., a solar technology manufacturer, at its factory in Tucson. SunEdison, a solar energy services provider, funded the plant.
The roughly 2-acre photovoltaic plant will help power the Roger Road Wastewater Reclamation Facility, 3035 W. El Camino del Cerro, and is the largest of its kind to be deployed within Pima County, according to a fact sheet provided by county supervisors. Because the solar plant was financed by SunEdison, Pima County taxpayers paid no upfront capital costs for the system. The county will buy energy generated by the plant from SunEdison for the duration of a 20-year contract. Solon Corp. will operate and maintain the plant under contract with SunEdison.
County Supervisors Richard Elias and Ray Carroll touted the plant’s expected economic and environmental benefits at a ceremony on Monday.
“This will save lots of money long-term,” Carroll said. He referred to estimates that the plant will save the county $1.2 million to $2 million per year over the 20-year contract, based on projected conventional energy price increases of 2.4 percent to 4 percent per year.
The plant is expected to provide more than 2 million kilowatt-hours of energy per year and more than 40 million over the next 20 years, roughly enough energy to power 3,700 U.S. homes for one year.
As for the plant’s environmental impact, the county estimates it will offset more than 47 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the next 20 years, the equivalent of taking about 4,600 cars off the road for one year.
Additionally, the county hopes the plant will save between 1.1 million and 1.6 million gallons of water that would be needed for conventional electrical generation.
“As supervisors, our intent is to have a positive legacy,” Carroll said. “We’re leaving a clean wake.”
Daniel Alcombright, North American regional vice president and general manager of Solon Corp., lauded the project for supporting “ green”jobs in Tucson.
“Where are the green jobs? Right here in Pima County,” he said.
Solon employs about 150 people in Tucson, Alcombright said.
Cory Vaughan, director of sales for SunEdison, praised the county Board of Supervisors for passing a sustainability resolution in May 2007. “Their participation was vital,” Vaughan said.
The resolution urged the county government to meet at least 15 percent of its energy needs using renewable resources by 2025.
Contact reporter Alex Dalenberg at adalenberg@azstarnet.com or 573-4224.
1-megawatt facility expected to create jobs, curb pollution
By Alex Dalenberg
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Government officials and solar- power leaders hailed the activation Monday of a 1-megawatt solar plant on Tucson’s north side as a job-creating, money-saving, pollution-reducing boon to Pima County.
The plant’s 3,700 solar panels were built locally by Solon Corp., a solar technology manufacturer, at its factory in Tucson. SunEdison, a solar energy services provider, funded the plant.
The roughly 2-acre photovoltaic plant will help power the Roger Road Wastewater Reclamation Facility, 3035 W. El Camino del Cerro, and is the largest of its kind to be deployed within Pima County, according to a fact sheet provided by county supervisors. Because the solar plant was financed by SunEdison, Pima County taxpayers paid no upfront capital costs for the system. The county will buy energy generated by the plant from SunEdison for the duration of a 20-year contract. Solon Corp. will operate and maintain the plant under contract with SunEdison.
County Supervisors Richard Elias and Ray Carroll touted the plant’s expected economic and environmental benefits at a ceremony on Monday.
“This will save lots of money long-term,” Carroll said. He referred to estimates that the plant will save the county $1.2 million to $2 million per year over the 20-year contract, based on projected conventional energy price increases of 2.4 percent to 4 percent per year.
The plant is expected to provide more than 2 million kilowatt-hours of energy per year and more than 40 million over the next 20 years, roughly enough energy to power 3,700 U.S. homes for one year.
As for the plant’s environmental impact, the county estimates it will offset more than 47 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the next 20 years, the equivalent of taking about 4,600 cars off the road for one year.
Additionally, the county hopes the plant will save between 1.1 million and 1.6 million gallons of water that would be needed for conventional electrical generation.
“As supervisors, our intent is to have a positive legacy,” Carroll said. “We’re leaving a clean wake.”
Daniel Alcombright, North American regional vice president and general manager of Solon Corp., lauded the project for supporting “ green”jobs in Tucson.
“Where are the green jobs? Right here in Pima County,” he said.
Solon employs about 150 people in Tucson, Alcombright said.
Cory Vaughan, director of sales for SunEdison, praised the county Board of Supervisors for passing a sustainability resolution in May 2007. “Their participation was vital,” Vaughan said.
The resolution urged the county government to meet at least 15 percent of its energy needs using renewable resources by 2025.
Contact reporter Alex Dalenberg at adalenberg@azstarnet.com or 573-4224.
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